| <GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR HUMANITARIAN DEMINING | UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY> |
During the last two decades, particularly in late 90s, the international community has become aware of the seriousness of the landmine problem and different approaches are being adopted to solve this problem. A fair amount is known about the suspected location of mine fields, but little is known about the socio-economic impact of landmines upon communities. Without information about this impact, it is impossible to develop effective strategies that seek to minimize the human and economic costs these weapons inflict. If the terror of landmines is to be contained within years, as envisioned by the Ottawa Treaty, rather than in decades as assumed in the early days of Mine Action programs, then better information is an immediate and unavoidable requirement.
To meet this need the Survey Action Center was formed in 1998 with the aim of managing the Global Landmine Survey initiative. This initiative involves the execution of Landmine Impact Surveys (LIS) focused on obtaining not only information regarding the location of minefields, but also information regarding the social and economic impacts that these minefields have on local communities. Much has been learned during these initial surveys, not only about the true definition of the landmine problem in surveyed countries, but also about how impact survey information can be utilized to develop more refined national strategic plans. The Survey Working Group asked SAC to further the incorporation of impact survey data into national planning processes. SAC in partnership with Cranfield Mine Action (UK) and GeoSpatial International (Canada) is expanding the range of impact survey activities to include follow-on training in strategic planning and survey data analysis. Greater efforts are also being made to more closely integrate impact survey activities with ongoing UN efforts at local capacity development.
Executed to a common international standard and certified by the United Nations Mine Action Service, the landmine impact survey:
In a unique cooperative effort, the NGO community, in collaboration with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), established the Survey Working Group. The Survey Working Group (SWG) monitors standards and facilitates, the international coordination of resources and expert personnel for the completion of the Landmine Impact Survey in countries worst affected by the landmines.
The members of the Survey Working Group (SWG) are:
In 1998 the Survey Working Group designated Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) to manage and serve as fiscal agent for the Survey Action Center. In February 2001, the SWG decided, in its Oslo meeting, to create an independent SAC. And in October 2001, at SWG’s Geneva meeting, an independent Board of Directors was created to take over responsibility for the Survey Action Center. The Survey Working Group expressed deep appreciation to VVAF for its stewardship of the overall survey process over the first three critical years. VVAF’s support has involved administrative and financial assistance and has been critical to the success of the Global Landmine Surveys.
Landmine Impact Surveys have been completed in Chad, Mozambique, Thailand and Yemen. The survey in Cambodia is nearing completion in spring 2002. Surveys have started or will begin in 2002 in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Somalia and Vietnam. In particular, work in Addis Ababa began in early 2002. The Lebanon survey began in spring 2002 with Mines Advisory Group implementing and VVAF providing training. The Somalia survey began in early May, and country impact survey plans have been drawn up for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Eritrea and Azerbaijan.
Yemen - The survey commenced in July 1999, was completed in July 2000, and certified by the UN Certification Committee chaired by the UNMAS in August 2000. The Canadian government was the prime donor, with additional support from Japan, Germany, the US, and UN Foundation. UNOPS was the executing agency with SAC implementation contracted to the Mine Clearance Planning Agency (MCPA). MCPA and the National Technical Executing Unit (NTEU) worked together to carry out the survey. In response to a request by Yemeni national authorities, SAC, MCPA and Cranfield University (UK) conducted a Survey Utilization Project to train national personnel to utilize survey data and develop a national mine action works plan.
Chad – With support from the US Department of State, the UK and the UN Foundation, SAC contracted Handicap International - France to begin survey operations in November 1999. UNOPS served as executing agency for part of the survey. The pilot survey was conducted in summer 2000 in the western and northern regions. Community level data collection began in all regions of Chad in fall 2000. Community level data collection was completed in mid March 2001. Chad survey was completed and certified in September 2001.
Thailand – With funding from the United Kingdom, Norway, US, the UN Foundation, Australia, Canada, and Finland, SAC contracted Norwegian People’s Aid to begin operations in June 2000. Community level data collection was completed in early April 2001 and all data was entered into the IMSMA database. Survey was completed and certified by the UN in July 2001.
Mozambique – The Canadian International Demining Centre (CIDC) has surveyed Mozambique with a Canadian government (CIDA) contribution. SAC and UNMAS provided a Quality Assurance Monitor (QAM), up to October 2000, funded by the US Department of State, which was to ensure, that the survey is conducted according to SWG standards. The Mozambique survey was completed and certified in September 2001.
Ethiopia – The UN requested that a Landmine Impact Survey be conducted in Ethiopia. SAC coordinated an advance survey mission in June 2001 with a follow-up in December 2001. Survey activities have started in Ethiopia and field interviews will take place in summer of 2002 and by the end of that year a final report will be published. Funding for this survey was provided by the EC and the governments of Finland, Germany, Netherlands and the USA. Execution is partially by UNDP/UNOPS and partially by the SAC. Implementing partners on the ground are working under the authority of Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO). Implementing agency for this survey is UNDP while survey is being executed by the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) under SAC’s supervision.
Somalia – SAC subcontracted HALO Trust to conduct an advance survey mission in 1999 in Somaliland. Due to changes in the environment and to cover other regions of Somalia, SAC has conducted a second Advance Survey Mission in March 2001. Agreement with government authorities has been obtained to conduct a full impact survey in Somalia and Somaliland and initial survey activities have started. Field interviews are scheduled for the summer of 2002 and final report is expected by the end of 2002. Financial support for this survey was provided by the SIDA and the EC through UNDP and UNOPS. This survey is being implemented by the Danish Demining Group (DDG) and managed by the SAC.
Bosnia and Herzegovnia – SAC sent a mission to Bosnia and Herzegovnia in June 2000 to study feasibility of a Landmine Impact Survey. An advance survey mission visited in early 2002. A full survey is expected to take place in July 2002. The BHMAC is the national repository for all the data of the BiH/LIS. The International Trust Fund, with financial support from the US Department of State Humanitarian Demining Program and the European Commission, has contracted SAC for the survey work.
Azerbaijan – SAC conducted an advance survey mission in December 2000. Initial survey activities have already started there and a full blown survey will begin in late spring of 2002. This survey is being conducted through Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and local partner is International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF). Financial support for this survey was provided by the EU through UNDP and UNOPS.
Afghanistan – A SAC advance survey mission to Afghanistan in May 2000 examined the feasibility of retrofitting existing data into the Landmine Impact Survey module. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan (UNOCHA) has sent a letter of intent to SAC and project planning has begun. It is planned to begin the Afghanistan impact survey by the end of 2002 with the financial support from the EC.
Vietnam – With funding from the US Department of State, a regional pilot survey will be conducted in central Vietnam in 2002. This work is precursor to a national Landmine/UXO Impact Survey of Vietnam. VVAF is implementing this survey.
Eritrea – The UN and the government of Eritrea requested that a Landmine Impact Survey be conducted in this country. SAC conducted an advance survey mission in May 2001. This survey, with funding from the European Commission, will be executed by the mine action authority with UN advisors and SAC technical training.
Senegal/Guinea Bissau - As a result of discussions at a mine action conference in Bomoko, SAC is investigating the need and feasibility of a Landmine Impact Survey in Senegal/Guinea Bissau.
Western Sahara – Norwegian People’s Aid and Medico International have conducted an exploratory mission to Western Sahara. Similarly - SAC will conduct an advance survey mission in mid-2002.
Angola – A primary donor has been identified. SAC will conduct an advance survey mission in mid – 2002.
Columbia – SAC is monitoring the security situation and will conduct an advance survey mission as conditions permit.
Technical Advisory Team – A specialized SAC team of internationally recognized experts in social science, survey, GIS, and statistics is available to assist with surveys in the field and to help with later analysis.
Survey Information – The SAC information management office will support national surveys with map data sets and related information.
Data Base – The SWG has established the principles of Landmine Impact Survey. SAC and UNMAS have developed the survey protocols and field questionnaire. In cooperation with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, this data set has been integrated into the UN Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA). The field module is available for national surveys.
Training – SAC has provided detailed Landmine Impact Survey training to representatives of more than 20 organizations in the donor, UN and NGO communities. SAC will continue to provide this service to organizations preparing to implement surveys.
Worldwide Web Site – The Survey Action Center maintains a web site allowing access to survey information referenced geographically.
Survey Action Center
6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 240
Takoma Park, MD 20912, U.S.A.
Tel: (301) 891-9192; Fax: (301) 891-9193
E-mail: sac@sac-na.org
Website: www.sac-na.org
