Goma, 24 January 2013 - The United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre (UNMACC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on 14 January 2013, destroyed 373 unexploded devices, at the National Armed Forces' camp at Mubambiro, a village located 25 km southwest of the eastern town of Goma. The destruction operation was part of the efforts by the United Nations Organizations Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) to clear Goma and its surroundings from unexploded ordnance (UXOs) and light weapons left from the November 2012 attempt by rebels of the M23 to take and occupy the town.

The UXOs in question were those collected in areas surrounding Goma airport and near military and police barracks. The destruction of these dangerous devices was carried out by the MECHEM Explosive Disposal Team under the supervision of UNMACC. Nearly 400 explosives, including rockets, RPG, mortar shells, grenades and other devices, were destroyed during the month of January 2013, amounting to a total of 2047 ammunition destroyed since the beginning of 2012.

UNMACC's assistant mine action operations and safety officer John Katho said their efforts to make people aware of dangers of UXOs were beginning to bear their fruits. "There are many unexploded devices scattered within and around the towns of Goma and Sake," Mr. Katho said. "But as a result of our public awareness campaigns, members of the population, the National Armed Forces and the Police do contact us when they detect the presence of an unexploded device. We then go to the designated location to assess the situation and decide whether to dispose of the device on the spot or move it to a more convenient place for that purpose."

UNMACC has been coordinating mine action activities in the DRC since 2002. The agency also supports MONUSCO's peacekeeping and humanitarian operations and helps the Congolese Government to develop a national mine action capacity. Since beginning its activities in 2002, more than 9 square km of land has been cleared, and three million people have benefited from UNMACC's UXO hazards awareness and education campaigns.

Clara Padovan / MONUSCO