Mine Action Weekly, 2 - 8 March 2026
- Markus Schindler
- Mar 9
- 11 min read
Updated: May 4
A warm welcome to the latest edition of the Mine Action Weekly newsletter - your go-to source for the most important global updates from the mine action sector. Read about the latest news on EO contamination & clearance, EORE, accidents and victim assistance, advocacy efforts, stockpile destruction, mine action innovation & technology, and assistance, cooperation & funding - right here, every Monday. Dive right in and stay up-to-date!
Disclaimers:
This newsletter features news reports and articles from a variety of sources. Mention of these resources does not indicate agreement with or endorsement of the opinions of others. I do not claim responsibility or credit for these works, and do not vouch for the information contained in them.
This newsletter is created and managed in a personal capacity, independent of my professional affiliation with Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD).
🗞️ Weekly News Roundup
The weekly news roundup showcases a low-down of the top mine action news and insights from the past seven days.
1. EO Contamination, Clearance & Land Release
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: ANAMA clears 4,264 hectares of land in February
A total of 4,264.8 hectares of land were cleared of mines and made safe during search operations conducted in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan throughout February. 71 anti-tank mines, 410 anti-personnel mines, and 1,621 unexploded ordnances (UXO) were discovered and neutralised during the reporting period.
Teams from the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) have continued operations to locate and clear explosive remnants in the vicinity of Preah Vihear Temple following recent border hostilities.
🇰🇭 Cambodia Celebrates 33 Years of Progress in Clearing 3,541 Square Kilometeres of Landmines
Over the past 33 years, from 1992 to 2025, Cambodia has successfully cleared and repurposed 3,541 square kilometres of land formerly contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war. This significant achievement was highlighted in a special message from Prime Minister Hun Manet on 23 February 2026, marking the occasion of the 27th National Mine Awareness Day on 24 February.
More than 1,200 pieces of unexploded ordnance have been identified within the complex of Preah Vihear Temple, Cambodian authorities said, as several foreign military attachés inspected unexploded munitions (UXOs) fired by the Thai military during the 2025 clashes along the Cambodian–Thai frontier.
🇱🇦 Laos: When the Bombs Were Gone in Maknao Noy Village
In Maknao Noy village in Laos, farmland long contaminated by unexploded ordnance endangered residents for decades. Villagers sometimes handled cluster munitions themselves. Norwegian People’s Aid clearance teams eventually removed the explosives, allowing families to farm safely again. The cleared land increased rice harvests and enabled new livelihoods such as livestock and frog farming.
Humanitarian guidance highlights the need to integrate mine action with housing, land and property (HLP) responses in Gaza. Widespread explosive contamination complicates debris removal, reconstruction, and land access. Coordinated assessment, clearance, risk education, and legal support are essential to safely restore homes, resolve property claims, and enable displaced communities to return and rebuild.
🇸🇾 Syria: Mine-clearance in Latakia and Hama, support civilian return and agricultural recovery
Engineering units of the Syrian Arab Army continue mine-clearance operations in parts of Latakia and Hama countryside as part of an ongoing national plan to remove war remnants, enhance civilian safety and facilitate the return of agricultural activity.
🇸🇾 Syria: Remains of 14 people found in Adra industrial area northeast of Damascus
Workers preparing foundations for a mill in the Adra industrial area near Damascus uncovered human remains during excavation. Before recovery operations began, the National Mine Action Center surveyed the site to clear potential landmines and unexploded ordnance, enabling forensic teams to safely recover the remains of 14 individuals over two days.
🇹🇷 Turkey: Clear denial of the claim regarding "mines" on the Turkey-Iran border
Turkey’s Disinformation Combat Center denied social media claims that 80,000 landmines had been cleared along the Turkey–Iran border, calling the reports false. Authorities stated that mine clearance occurs through planned programmes under international obligations, while border security continues through physical barriers, surveillance technology, drones, and layered security systems.
🇺🇦 Ukraine Demining Units Clear 767 Hectares in February 2026
During February 2026, the demining units of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine cleared 767 hectares of liberated territories from explosive remnants of war. In particular, safety was restored on 743.49 hectares of road and rail access, 11.32 hectares of agricultural land, over 79 kilometres of railway tracks, and more. Demining specialists identified and neutralised 117 explosive devices.
🇺🇦 Ukraine: Clearing the way forward: Women, peace, and security in Ukraine’s mine action response
Research by Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) examines how Ukraine’s mine action response contributes to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, highlighting women’s growing participation in clearance, survey, risk education, and leadership. It shows how gender- and age-disaggregated data improves prioritisation and community outreach, demonstrating mine action’s role in participation, protection, prevention, and recovery.
🇺🇦 🇬🇭 Ukraine: The first Food from Ukraine agrohub has been launched in Ghana
Ukraine and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) plan to deepen strategic cooperation within the framework of the Food from Ukraine humanitarian initiative, develop international agrohub networks, and scale up humanitarian mine clearance and rural community recovery programmes.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Bomb disposal team finds 300 pieces of ordnance
A bomb disposal team dealt with more than 300 pieces of ordnance on a beach, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has confirmed. Eskmeals beach, near Ravenglass, in Cumbria, was closed for 11 days after unexploded ordnance was found. The MOD confirmed its explosive ordnance disposal team had dealt "with a significant cache of historic ordnance" and had carried out 13 controlled explosions.
🇾🇪 Yemen: Project Masam clears 1,263 explosive items in Yemen during first week of March
Masam Landmine Clearance Project - Yemen demining teams cleared 1,263 landmines and explosive remnants of war during the first week of March 2026, continuing efforts to reduce explosive threats and protect civilians across Yemen’s liberated areas. According to the project’s operations room, the items removed between 28 February and 6 March 2026 included three anti-personnel mines, 33 anti-tank mines, and 1,227 items of unexploded ordnance. During the same reporting period, Project Masam teams secured 8,200 square metres of land, making it safe for civilian use.
Other EO Finds from Around the Globe:
🇦🇱 Albania: Alarm in Selenica! Around 160 unexploded shells from World War II discovered. Read more
🇧🇩 Bangladesh: 6 unexploded sound grenades found near Supreme Court entrance. Read more
🇬🇷 Greek Army Βomb Squad Neutralise Unexploded Shell. Read more
🇭🇰 Hong Kong: American WWII bomb found buried in Hong Kong, thousands evacuated. Read more
🇮🇳 India: Mortar shell defused along LoC in J-K's Poonch. Read more
🇮🇪 Ireland: Army Bomb Disposal Team Called To Suspicious Device in Dublin 17. Read more
🇽🇰 Kosovo: Unexploded devices found in Orahovac and Đakovica, removed by EOD and KFOR demining team. Read more
🇳🇵 Nepali Army disposes of suspicious object in Rautahat. Read more
🇵🇰 Pakistan: Narowal escapes disaster as bomb squad defuses Indian anti-tank mine. Read more
🇸🇪 Sweden: Hand grenade left outside car dealers in Malmö. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Children of war: Chilling moment boy climbs on unexploded missile. Read more
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Bomb squad called after burglary in Rugby. Read more
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Bomb squad called to park as suspicious item found. Read more
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Bomb disposal teams in Rochdale after 'suspected grenades' found in property. Read more
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Police cordon at Somerset park after 'unexploded ordnance' found. Read more
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Armley incident: bomb squad called to Leeds street after ‘suspicious items’ discovered. Read more
🇺🇸 United States: Wichita woman finds grenade in shed, prompting bomb squad response. Read more
🇺🇸 United States: Hazardous antique item detonated by bomb squad in Highland Village. Read more
🇻🇳 Vietnam: Nghe An authorities safely dispose of 350kg wartime bomb. Read more
2. Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE)
3. Accidents, Survivors, Victim Assistance
Cambodia has formally urged the Asean Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC) and international partners to expand their commitment to demining operations and programmes for survivor assistance.
🇸🇾 Syria: The Ongoing death: How Russian-made mines are killing Syrians and destroying their forgotten lands
Since the start of the Syrian revolution in 2011, mines have killed thousands of Syrians and injured thousands more. This investigation, based on open-source data, interviews with victims, and field visits, reveals a systematic campaign by the Assad regime to use mines to cause long-term human, material, and environmental harm that could last for decades.
Other EO Accidents from Around the Globe:
🇰🇼 Kuwait: Bangladeshi worker killed in mine explosion in Kuwait. Read more
🇱🇾 Libyan Crimes Watch confirms child killed by war remnants explosion in Qasr Al-Akhyar. Read more
🇲🇲 Myanmar: Explosions kill 3 civilians, injure 6 in Rakhine within 2 months. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Two Internal Security personnel killed, three injured in mine explosion in Daraa. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Child killed by landmine explosion in rural Idlib. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Eight children injured in landmine explosion left by deposed regime in Hama countryside. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Old ordnance | Two children injured in eastern Deir Ezzor countryside. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Child dies in explosion of landmine of war remnants in Ma’arat Al-Na’aman. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Four civilians injured in explosion of war remnants in Al-Hasakah and Manbij. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Old ordnance | Two children injured in northern Al-Raqqah countryside. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Child killed in explosion of landmine of war remnants in Hama. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Member of Ministry of Defence killed in landmine explosion in Al-Raqqa. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Civilian injured in explosion of landmine of war remnants in Al-Hasakah. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Leaving two dead and wounded | Landmine explodes in patrol of Asayish Forces in Kobani countryside. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Five members of the General Security killed and injured in the explosion of a landmine in headquarters of Ninth Division. Read more
🇸🇾 Syria: Young man injured in landmine explosion in Homs. Read more
4. Advocacy, Policy, Conventions, Strategies and Standards
Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), reaffirmed that the policy of Prime Minister Hun Manet, is to ensure that no one continues to suffer from landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW).
A ceremony was held recently at the Techo Peace Museum in Siem Reap province to mark the completion of construction and official handover of the “Peace Hall,” according to Heng Ratana, Royal Government Delegate in charge of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC).
🇺🇦 Ukraine Launches Landmark Legal Action to Hold Russia Accountable for ‘Ecocide’
Ukraine is pursuing legal action accusing Russia of ecocide, documenting over 10,000 environmental crimes and £108 billion in damage. Widespread contamination from mines, unexploded ordnance, and destroyed infrastructure has polluted soil, water, and ecosystems, creating long-term hazards. Evidence gathered will support international compensation claims and accountability for environmental devastation.
🇺🇦 Ukraine Introduces Targeted Farm Subsidies by Defining Risk Zones
Ukraine introduced targeted farm subsidies by defining “risk farming zones,” including land near the front line or contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance. The policy directs financial support to farmers operating under hazardous conditions, where explosive hazards from the war have caused numerous casualties and continue to threaten agricultural work.
🇬🇧 UK remains committed to landmine ban treaty
The UK Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines despite recent withdrawals from the treaty by several European states.
5. Stockpile Destruction, Demolition, WAM and Disarmament
🇵🇾 MAG meets with President of Paraguay
MAG (Mines Advisory Group) was pleased to meet with the President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, at an official ceremony inaugurating a new armoury to improve the security of seized weapons and strengthen national security.
6. Research, Innovation, Technology and Market Trends
🇩🇪 🇭🇷 Germany: Rheinmetall acquires stake in Croatian company DOK-ING
The Düsseldorf-based technology group Rheinmetall is expanding its portfolio with an acquisition in the field of uncrewed systems. Rheinmetall has now signed a contract in Zagreb to buy a majority stake of Croatian uncrewed ground system solution provider DOK-ING. Rheinmetall is acquiring 51% of the company, which was founded in 1991, Vjekoslav Majetić, the founder and previous sole owner of the company, will retain the remaining shares (49%).
🇺🇦 Ukraine: These Drones Are Not Built to Kill
Ukrainian Demining Services (UDS) deploys drones in Kharkiv to survey farmland contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance after Russian occupation. Drone imagery guides mechanical clearance using Bozena machines and manual sapper work. The effort restores agricultural land and livelihoods while addressing vast contamination that could take centuries to fully clear.
Researchers are developing drone-based systems combined with artificial intelligence to accelerate landmine detection and clearance. Multisensor drones collect data – thermal, hyperspectral, LiDAR, radar and magnetometer – which AI analyses to identify mines and unexploded ordnance. The approach could survey contaminated areas far faster and more safely than traditional ground-based detection methods.
7. Mine Action Assistance, Funding and Cooperation
The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on developing mine detection dog capabilities and explosive ordnance detection in Cambodia.
🇺🇦 🇱🇧 Ukraine, Lebanon: Free trade, agrohub and demining: Ukraine and Lebanon agree to strengthen cooperation
Ukraine and Lebanon are starting work on a free trade agreement and plan to create a joint logistics agrohub. In addition to economic issues, the countries have agreed to cooperate in the field of mine action and exchange experience in land reclamation.
🇺🇸 United States: Money Matters: Who were the lucky few to get US funding last year?
U.S. foreign aid spending fell sharply in 2025 after major cuts and the dismantling of USAID, leaving only a small number of grantees funded. Mine clearance organisations were among the few sectors that continued receiving support, even as most development programs halted and overall U.S. aid dropped dramatically.
8. Other News
🇱🇦 Laos: Book launch: Stories of Brave Laos Women in a Forgotten War
A new book published by the MAG (Mines Advisory Group), Stories of Brave Lao Women in a Forgotten War, documents a powerful collection of real-life stories that honour the courage and dedication of Lao women working on the frontlines of unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance in Lao PDR. Written by Lao author Kabkeo Thammavong, the book highlights the lived experiences of women making land safe for communities across Lao PDR.
🎥 Videos
People were seen gathered around a missile that was intercepted by NATO over northeastern Syria heading for Turkey.
📅 Upcoming Events, Courses & Trainings
There are a number of interesting events for the mine action sector in the coming months, and some of the deadlines are approaching quickly.
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) launched Clearing the Way Forward: Women, Peace, and Security in Ukraine’s Mine Action Response on International Women’s Day, highlighting women’s growing roles in clearance, survey, and risk education—nearly 30% of the workforce. A hybrid launch event on 16 March (12:00–14:00, Geneva) will feature Ukrainian, UNIDIR, and Swiss representatives discussing WPS progress. Register here.
In December 2026, Rogue Wave Atlantic Row 2026 are taking on ‘the world’s toughest row’ — a month-long, unsupported 3,000-mile expedition from the Canary Islands to Antigua in support of The HALO Trust’s life-saving work. To be part of the journey from the very start by joining the team for an unforgettable black-tie evening at Royal Windsor Racecourse (on Saturday 11 April, from 6pm) with a luxurious three-course dinner, inspiring speakers, auction, raffle, and the official handover of the team’s boat, learn more and get your tickets here.
The Mine Action: Innovation, Sustainability, and Global Partnerships speaker series is structured to address landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) challenges through a strictly humanitarian, civilian-protection-oriented framework, with clearly defined ethical, legal, and operational boundaries between humanitarian and military applications of technology. Dates are: FEB 19 | MAR 19 | APR 16 | MAY 21 | JUN 18 | JUL 16 | AUG 20 | SEP 17 | OCT 15 | NOV 19 | DEC 17. Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET. Location: Virtual (Zoom Webinar). Register here.
The 29th Annual Meeting of Mine Action Directors and UN Advisers will take place at the Geneva International Conference Center from 22 to 24 April 2026. Learn more and register here.
The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)'s three IMSMA Global training courses for 2026 are officially open for registration: (1) 09 Mar 2026 - 13 Mar 2026 (Application deadline: 6 January 2026), (2) 04 May 2026 - 08 May 2026 (Application deadline: 4 February 2026), (3) 02 Nov 2026 - 06 Nov 2026 (Application deadline: 2 August 2026).
🔔 Always Stay in the Know – Never Miss an Update
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