The focus of the information and articles available on this page is on land release. They provide an overview of the projects that have been carried out in the last few years.

Current activities

ANGOLA

Since 2008, the GICHD has been working together with Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) on improving non-technical and technical survey procedures in Angola.

CAMBODIA

From February 2009 to July 2010, a GICHD consultant was based in Phnom Penh and worked with the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA) and the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) on issues related to land release. This support has continued into 2011 and will be followed up by an external evaluation of the land release system developed for CMAC later this year.

• Video on Land Release in Cambodia available on the YouTube website

CHAD

The GICHD was asked by the Chad National Authority to assist in developing a land release concept. An initial fact-finding mission was carried out in May 2009. Follow-on support to develop a land release policy and national standards was also provided.

DRC

Together with Danish Church Aid (DCA) and Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), the GICHD has been exploring how land release principles can improve non-technical survey, technical survey and clearance in DRC. There was a mission to DRC in October 2009 that involved MSB/DCA workshops and discussions with the broader mine action community on ways to improve survey and clearance.

LAO PDR

In 2006/2007, the GICHD developed a risk management model for the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) in Lao PDR. The aim was to facilitate more effective land release during battle area clearance (BAC) operations, by prioritising tasks according to the ‘risk’ they present to the local population. Models for strategic and operational guidance were developed, and the final version of the operational model was delivered to the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) in Lao PDR in October 2008. Since then, the GICHD has been involved in supporting Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) in Lao PDR with the development of explosive remnants of war (ERW) survey techniques.

SUDAN

In 2010, the UNMAO requested that the GICHD carry out an assessment of the land release policy that was implemented in Sudan in 2009. The first fact-finding mission was carried out in Southern Sudan in November 2010, and a second is to take place in mid-2011.
The GICHD will also provide training in 2011 for the national mine action authority in Southern Sudan, on efficient survey and clearance. 

TAJIKISTAN

In July 2009, a mission to collect information for future publications related to non-technical and technical survey was conducted by the GICHD, the Tajikistan Mine Action Centre (TMAC) and the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD). It included a workshop on technical survey, and the focus was on developing a national standard in technical survey. This is currently still under development.

CONVENTION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS (CCM)

Throughout 2011, the GICHD land release unit has been providing advice and support to the Australian Permanent Mission to the Conference on Disarmament, which is also the Friend of the CCM President on Clearance.

PUBLICATIONS

A Guide to Land Release: non-technical methods

Recently, the GICHD re-published a study that looks at more effective ways to release land through non-technical survey. Case studies of six countries are given as examples of effective methodologies. General principles and recommendations are given for mine-affected states and programmes. 

Download or order the publication

Land Release and Cluster Munitions

At the 1MSP of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) held during November 2010 in Lao PDR, the GICHD launched a publication that focused on how land release principles apply to the survey and clearance of submunitions. The publication focuses on the differences between survey and clearance of submunitions, as opposed to mines, and provides guidance on the land release principles that apply.

Download or order the publication