Mine Action Weekly, 21 - 27 September 2026
This week’s Mine Action Weekly spans a sector balancing sustained clearance demands with new contamination, recovery priorities and technological change. From Gaza’s hazardous rubble and Afghanistan’s continued UXO threat to Kosovo’s 27-year clearance effort, the edition also highlights expanding international cooperation, renewed commitments to cluster-munition action, AI-enabled technologies, and investments strengthening national mine-action capacity worldwide.
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
🇦🇫 Afghanistan: 68 Types of Unexploded Ordnance Destroyed in Khost
The provincial officials of Khost province say 68 pieces of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) were discovered and destroyed in an area of the provincial capital. Officials said the items were identified during mine-clearance operations and were safely destroyed by the provincial Disaster Management Authority in coordination with a mine-clearance organisation.
🇦🇫 Afghanistan: Taliban say seven Kabul districts cleared of landmines and unexploded ordnance
The Taliban administration said seven districts in the north of Kabul province have been cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance, an effort directly tied to residents’ safety and the use of agricultural land in a country heavily contaminated by war remnants.
Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) reported that 204 anti-personnel mines, 65 anti-tank mines and 745 items of UXO were detected and destroyed between 14 and 20 September across 13 districts. A total of 1,840.3 hectares was cleared during the period, sustaining the pace of clearance in formerly occupied territories.
🇨🇴 Colombia: Returning home to clear the land
The story follows a former farmer in Colombia who returned to his community as a HALO deminer, helping clear land that had been contaminated by anti-personnel mines and training a new generation of deminers.
🇽🇰 Kosovo: HALO clears the way for Kosovo's future
The HALO Trust is celebrating the conclusion of its humanitarian landmine clearance in Kosovo after 27 years. During this time, communities have rebuilt their homes, schools and businesses, and the economy has grown to $14 billion.
🇵🇸 Palestine: Gaza aid workers face delicate task of clearing ruins
Gaza’s massive rubble-clearance effort is being complicated by unexploded ordnance embedded in destroyed buildings and roads. UNDP and WFP teams coordinate with UNMAS, HALO Trust and other mine-action actors to identify and mark hazardous areas, but limited EOD capacity means not all explosive items can yet be removed. The UN estimates 61 million tonnes of rubble may require clearance.
A Daily News feature profiles the Sri Lanka Army Engineers' 20-dog mine detection unit at Boo Oya, Vavuniya. It reports more than 1.2 million mines removed and 231 square kilometres cleared nationally, with 22–29 square kilometres remaining, and restates the national target of a mine-free Sri Lanka by 2032.
Personnel from several agencies responsible for maintaining homeland security in Saint Kitts and Nevis are participating in a three-day explosives disposal exercise and training. Expired munitions and ordnance are being safely detonated at the disposal exercise and training, which is being held at the Shooting Range at Bakers Point.
🇸🇩 🇺🇳 Sudan: Powering Recovery: Restoring Electricity to Greater Khartoum
UNMAS, working with Sudan's National Mine Action Center and implementing partner SafeLane Global, has cleared explosive ordnance from seven of 15 electrical substations in Greater Khartoum, enabling repairs to infrastructure serving water treatment, hospitals and schools. The EU-funded project also delivered risk education to 322 community members.
🇾🇪 Yemen: Project Masam clears 5,164 explosive threats in Yemen so far in September 2026
Project Masam demining teams have cleared 5,164 landmines and other explosive hazards across Yemen so far in September 2026, as humanitarian Mine Action operations continue across multiple governorates. The items cleared during the first four reporting weeks of September included 60 anti-personnel mines, 631 anti-tank mines, 4,452 items of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and 21 improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Teams also cleared 809,086 square metres of land.
🇻🇳 Vietnam: Quang Tri: 10 Years On - Sustained Investment, Partnership and Impact Addressing Cluster Munition Contamination (September 2026)
This report provides a snapshot of the impact of the mine action sector's work in Quang Tri over the past decade and reflects on some of the lessons learned, particularly around partnership and national ownership. It has been written by MAG's Vietnamese team, drawing on the experience and perspectives of the communities at the heart of this work. Read the report here.
Other EO Finds from Around the Globe:
🇵🇱 Poland defuses unexploded bomb dating back to World War II
🇺🇦 Ukraine: An unexploded ballistic missile warhead weighing 227 kg was defused in Kyiv
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Evacuation under way after unexploded WW2 bomb found in Cornwall
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: North Berwick beach sealed off after unexploded bomb discovered
2. Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE)
3. Accidents, Survivors, Victim Assistance
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: ANAMA: Since end of Patriotic War, 440 citizens have fallen victim to landmine incidents
ANAMA reported 275 landmine incidents in Azerbaijan between 10 November 2020 and 23 September 2026, affecting 440 people: 73 killed and 367 injured. The figures underline the continuing civilian toll as resettlement proceeds. The agency stressed that the threat affects entire communities and future generations, not only individual victims.
🇰🇷 South Korea: Two mine blasts in DMZ wound lead engineer sergeant, battalion commander
Two separate explosions in the western sector of Korea's Demilitarized Zone wounded a combat engineer sergeant leading a route-clearance patrol and the battalion commander who moved to assist him, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The blasts occurred dozens of metres from a suspected North Korean minefield; forensic examination is under way.
🇰🇷 South Korea: Military Delays Mine Explosion Site Investigation Amid Political Concerns
A landmine explosion near the Military Demarcation Line in the Demilitarized Zone injured three South Korean soldiers on September 21. The military planned a joint investigation with the UN Command after the Chuseok holiday, citing safety concerns and the need to protect affected personnel. The delay drew scrutiny over the preservation of evidence and the possibility of determining whether the mine was recently laid or displaced.
Other EO Accidents from Around the Globe:
4. Advocacy, Policy, Conventions, Strategies and Standards
🇱🇦 Lao PDR marks 16 years of the Cluster Munition Convention ahead of global Review Conference
Norwegian People's Aid reported on Lao PDR's commemoration of 16 years since the Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force, held in Vientiane ahead of the Review Conference with around 200 participants. Officials stressed that cluster munition remnants still obstruct livelihoods; NPA provided technical support with Canadian government funding.
🇵🇸 Palestine: Remarks by Ajith Sunghay, Head of the UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Addressing a donor forum on humanitarian mine action in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, OHCHR Head Ajith Sunghay underscored the importance of coordinated support for explosive-ordnance response. Contamination threatens civilians and restricts humanitarian operations, rubble removal and everyday activities, reinforcing the need for sustained mine-action capacity as recovery efforts continue.
🌍 The ban on cluster munition must remain solid
Following the Convention on Cluster Munitions’ Review Conference in Vientiane, Laos, Humanity & Inclusion welcomed states’ reaffirmation of the treaty but called for bolder, more concrete commitments. HI stresses that the ban must remain firm amid continued use of cluster munitions and their long-term civilian impact, including deaths and injuries caused by unexploded submunitions.
🌏 Triangular Partnership Programme sets new direction at Stakeholders’ Workshop
The UN Triangular Partnership Programme’s June 2026 workshop in Hanoi brought together 26 Member States and more than 80 participants to review progress and shape its 2027–2030 direction. Discussions covered engineering, medical and C4ISR training, alongside counter-IED capabilities, emerging technologies and AI-enabled tools to improve peacekeeper safety. The UN Mine Action Service participated in the discussions.
🌏 The Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions
ITF reported on the CCM Third Review Conference in Vientiane (14–18 September), attended by over 500 delegates from 91 countries, which adopted the Vientiane Action Plan 2027–2031. ITF cited Cluster Munition Monitor 2026 data of 1,063 casualties in 2025, 87% civilian, and highlighted its clearance work in Lebanon and Serbia.
5. Stockpile Destruction, Demolition, WAM and Disarmament
🇲🇿 🇺🇸 Mozambique: U.S. to Disburse 1.5 Million Dollars for Weapons Control
The United States will provide $1.5 million, implemented with The HALO Trust USA, to strengthen Mozambique's weapons and ammunition management, including specialised training for security personnel in stockpile management, control and security. The programme aims to prevent state-held conventional arms from reaching criminal and armed groups.
6. Research, Innovation, Technology and Market Trends
🇬🇧 🇺🇦 United Kingdom: Pearson Engineering Ukraine-Driven Innovation at DVD
Pearson Engineering is using lessons from supplying Ukraine with mine ploughs, rollers and clearance systems to develop safer, more effective technologies. At the 2026 Defence Vehicle Dynamics exhibition, visitors trialled the MineWolf MW370 Next Generation, featuring increased automation, and Threat-Sense, which uses AI to identify explosive threats. Both technologies have potential applications in humanitarian demining.
7. Mine Action Assistance, Funding and Cooperation
Afghanistan's de facto National Disaster Management Authority and Norwegian People's Aid signed a memorandum of understanding for a project worth over $487,000 covering mine and UXO clearance and risk awareness in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces. The project aims to reduce explosive ordnance risk for residents of vulnerable areas.
"Armenia is ready to continue and deepen cooperation with Azerbaijan on the issue of demining,” said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as he addressed the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
🇦🇿 🇰🇭 Azerbaijan, Cambodia discuss cooperation on mine clearance
Foreign Ministers Jeyhun Bayramov of Azerbaijan and Prak Sokhonn of Cambodia discussed cooperation on mine clearance on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly, according to Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry. The meeting, which also covered interparliamentary ties, adds to Azerbaijan's growing bilateral mine action outreach.
🇦🇿 🇺🇳 Azerbaijan: UN to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan on mine action
UN Resident Coordinator Dmytro Shlapachenko said UNOPS, with EU funding, is in the final stage of negotiations with Azerbaijan's government on a first mine action programme, describing it as the start of wider UN engagement. Clearance remains central to Azerbaijan's reconstruction of its formerly occupied territories.
🇰🇭 🇪🇺 Cambodia: EU Grants Nearly $2 Million for Mine Clearance
The European Union has approved a $1.8 million grant to support mine clearance in two border provinces. The work will be carried out by the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) in cooperation with APOPO, which trains mine-detecting African giant rats.
🇰🇭 🇺🇸 Cambodia: U.S. and HALO Trust Reinforce Demining Partnership to Clear Land and Support Community Development in Cambodia
U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Aleks Zittle visited HALO Trust clearance teams in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, to review U.S.-funded operations. The United States has invested more than $52 million in HALO's Cambodia programme since 2000, supporting the conversion of contaminated land into productive farmland for rural families.
🇰🇭 🇺🇸 Cambodia: United States Pledges $3 Million Demining Grant to APOPO to Enhance Security and Health Cooperation in Cambodia
The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh announced a $3 million grant to APOPO for demining and linked health-security cooperation in Cambodia. The pledge was made at a Siem Reap reception on 10 September convened by Chargé d'Affaires Aleks Zittle with provincial leaders, demining implementers and public health partners; coverage appeared 21 September.
The Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Cambodia’s mine action sector and humanitarian efforts to build a country free from the impact of explosive remnants of war.
🇸🇧 🇺🇸 Solomon Islands: US Marines hand over UXO training classroom to police at Hell's Point
U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific handed a purpose-built classroom at Hell's Point to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force for demining and EOD training, delivered through its Humanitarian Mine Action programme. The facility strengthens national capacity to address Second World War ordnance contamination around Honiara.
🇺🇦 🇸🇾 Ukraine, Syria step up cooperation in mine action
Ukraine and Syria have signed an intergovernmental agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in mine action. The document was signed by Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment Ihor Bezkaravainyi, who is in Damascus on an official visit, and Syria's Deputy Minister for Emergency Situations and Disaster Management Mustafa Monir.
🇺🇦 Ukraine: A 110-pound underwater drone built to be used exactly once tilts its shaped-charge head onto a sea mine and goes up with it, steered from outside the minefield by an operator who reaches for the next one in the rack, and Ukraine is getting three boatloads
Belgium has awarded Exail Robotics Belgium a €9.87 million contract to provide Ukraine with three TRIDENT mine-countermeasure systems. Each system uses small boats carrying underwater drones, including the expendable K-Ster C, which destroys itself while neutralising a mine. The approach offers Ukraine a flexible alternative to larger minehunters unable to enter the Black Sea.
8. Other News
🇰🇷 Korea's oldest gunpowder weapon found on Naju mountain during mine-clearing operation
An artifact believed to be the oldest gunpowder weapon ever found in Korea has been discovered on Geumseongsan in Naju, South Jeolla Province – a mountain that served as a key military stronghold in the Yeongsan River basin. An Air Force anti-aircraft battery has been stationed at the summit of Geumseongsan since 1966. Soldiers came across the artifact by chance on a rocky cliff near the ninth ridge while sweeping the area for land mines to create a hiking trail.
🇸🇸 South Sudan: Strengthening effectiveness through safeguarding and accountability in South Sudan
The GICHD has released a publication on safeguarding and accountability in South Sudan's mine action sector, set against high levels of sexual and gender-based violence, entrenched gender inequality and weak justice systems. It examines how the sector can strengthen protection and accountability; the exact publication date could not be confirmed.
🎥 Videos
High level panel discussion to review the history and achievements of the global efforts against landmines, and the challenges ahead.
Paul Heslop from UNMAS explains the functioning of cluster munitions.
After 27 years, HALO Kosovo is closing operations with the country transformed.
Across Syria, communities continue to face risks from explosive ordnance. Awareness is key to staying safe. Since the beginning of 2026, UNMAS and its partners have distributed over 800,000 EORE safety materials, including tailored posters, leaflets, and children's whiteboards.
📅 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.
The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) will convene the Pacific Regional Workshop on Explosive Ordnance Risk Reduction (EORR) from 24 to 26 November 2026 in Brisbane, Australia. Building on previous GICHD regional workshops in the Pacific, the 2026 workshop will focus on turning regional priorities into practical action. It will bring together representatives from Pacific Island countries, including national mine action authorities and operators, alongside donors, NGO and commercial clearance operators, capacity development organisations, and military support missions. Apply here by 28 September.
States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention will meet in Geneva from 30 November to 4 December 2026 for the Twenty-Third Meeting of the States Parties, reviewing implementation of the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan, Article 5 clearance obligations and compliance issues. Learn more here.
Felix Connect is a dedicated networking event designed to bring together supporters, partners, and friends of Felix Fund - the bomb disposal charity. It’s a relaxed, welcoming space to connect, network, or simply catch up with familiar faces from across the EOD, Search, defence, and charity communities. The event will be held on 28 September in London. Learn more 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.
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