MAG delivers a range of projects dealing globally with different aspects of human security issues, providing appropriate responses in post-conflict countries through Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) destruction projects as well Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) activities. This coordinated and integrated approach supports states to develop sustainable solutions to armed violence, and is an essential contribution to local, national and regional security and aspects of Armed Violence Reduction (AVR).
MAG is currently undertaking aspects of SALW and PSSM work in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), El Salvador, Iraq, Libya, Republic of South Sudan and Somalia. Highlights are shown below.
El Salvador
In March 2013 a MAG team returned to El Salvador to purchase the materials and equipment required to implement physical security improvements at weapons/munitions storage sites, in line with recommendations made during the Assessment Mission in January. During this three-month project, MAG is working closely with the Salvadoran Armed Forces to coordinate the purchase and installation of equipment, with the procurement of identified items beginning at the end of March. Once all equipment and materials are purchased, MAG will provide technical supervision, advice and oversight of proposed security improvements at 10 sites across El Salvador.
Iraq
Teams deployed 84 times from the programme’s two operation bases during February, completing 161 emergency CWD tasks in Sulimaniyah, Dohuk, Mosul, and Kirkuk Governorates. During the month, 2,894 CW were safely destroyed including 70mm PG, anti- personnel landmines, anti-tank landmines, fuses, mortars, projectiles and small arms ammunition in addition to several other types of UXO. In total teams destroyed 19 stockpiles.
DR Congo
MAG’s SALW/PSSM mobile team has been carrying out assessments of FARDC/PNC’s armouries and stockpiles in Lubumbashi. During February, the team responded to several requests to carry out the destruction of 18.2 tons of ammunition with the FARDC. The DRC programme has cumulatively destroyed a total of 955.768 tonnes of ammunition making a significant contribution to improving human security. MAG also continued to support the Congolese Army’s FARDC destruction team at the Central Logistics Base which destroyed a total of 800 unsafe and obsolete weapons.
South Sudan
In March the five technical teams including two Multi-Tasking Teams (MTTs), one Mechanical Team (MT) and two Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams remained operational during the month.
The teams as a whole completed 101 EOD spot tasks, removing a total of 6089 items and released a total of 84041 m2 of land to local communities using different techniques like BAC, EOD visual inspection and Non Technical survey. EOD1 and EOD3 also conducted stockpiles at Tserentenya and Bori Grid locations at the request of UNMAS and local authorities respectively, disposing off a total of 2511 items of UXO and other ERW.