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Mine Action Weekly, 7 - 13 September 2024

Writer: Markus Schindler
Markus Schindler
1 day ago
15 min read

This week’s edition of Mine Action Weekly highlights the scale, complexity and evolving nature of explosive ordnance contamination worldwide. From record clearance efforts in Azerbaijan and the mounting cluster-munition legacy to Gaza, Ukraine and Syria, the edition explores operational progress, civilian risks, policy pressures and international cooperation – while spotlighting the people, partnerships and innovations shaping mine action’s response to today’s challenges.



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: More than 1,700 hectares cleared of mines across Azerbaijan’s liberated areas

The Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) has released data on mine clearance operations carried out in the liberated territories from August 31 to September 6. According to ANAMA, mine clearance teams detected and destroyed 140 anti-personnel mines, 28 anti-tank mines and 1,390 other unexploded ordnance items. A total of 1,706.4 hectares of land were cleared of mines and other unexploded ordnance during the week.


The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) is accelerating operations to clear cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war (ERWs) left in regions affected by Thai military actions in 2025, a senior official said.


🇯🇵 Japan: More than 11 tons of World War II ordnance cleared from Okinawa in a year

Japan’s military disposed of more than 11 tons of unexploded ordnance on Okinawa during the past fiscal year, as the former World War II battleground continues to yield thousands of pieces of buried ammunition.


🇱🇦 Laos: Unexploded Submunition Safely Destroyed Following Community Report in Vonglakhon Village in Southern Laos

A resident’s prompt reporting of an unexploded submunition in Vonglakhone Village, Attapeu Province, enabled Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) to safely destroy the item during ongoing survey and clearance operations. NPA teams had already destroyed more than 200 similar unexploded bombs in the village during the same week, underscoring the value of community reporting.


🇱🇦 Laos: Working Through the Challenges during the Rainy Season in Southern Laos

Heavy rainfall, waterlogged ground, fallen trees and obscured detector signals are slowing clearance operations in Attapeu Province. In Vonglakhone Village, 10 Norwegian People’s Aid teams are working across 69 contaminated task sites. Since August, they have destroyed 241 cluster munition remnants, contributing to more than 1.3 million m² cleared in 2026.


🇱🇦 Laos: “We Buried Them Because We Didn’t Know What to Do”

In Sekong Province, decades of unexploded ordnance contamination continue to endanger families and restrict agricultural activity. Residents recount burying or burning bombs because they did not know how to handle them safely. In June, Norwegian People’s Aid destroyed 56 BLU-26 submunitions in Chaling Village, covering 17,180 m² of contaminated land.


🇵🇸 Palestine: The Impossible Struggle to Demine Gaza

International mine-action teams remain unable to enter Gaza and safely remove unexploded ordnance, despite the growing threat to civilians. OCHA has recorded 580 explosive-ordnance incidents since the war began, causing at least 274 deaths and 1,134 injuries. Humanity & Inclusion estimates comprehensive clearance could take 20–30 years.


🇸🇾 Syria: Ongoing mine clearance to secure return for displaced persons

Mine clearance operations are continuing in the rural areas of Serêkaniyê, Tel Tamr, and Zarkan to secure the region for the return of displaced persons. Meanwhile, the Mine Action Center has warned residents against approaching unsafe areas, urging them to exercise caution and adhere to safety instructions.


🇸🇾 🇮🇱 🇰🇿 Syria, Israel: Kazakhstani peacekeepers continue demining operations on Golan Heights

Kazakhstani demining specialists serving as part of the United Nations peacekeeping contingent on the Golan Heights have neutralized more than 2,000 explosive devices and items since the beginning of their mission, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense said.


FSD has transferred a second trained demining team to the Ukrainian Center for Humanitarian Protection (UCHP), supporting its transition toward independent and sustainable operations. Since 2025, UCHP teams have conducted 188 non-technical surveys and 481 EORE sessions. The second team cleared nearly 45,000 m² in June, while a third team is planned.


🇺🇦 Ukraine: HI ready for humanitarian demining

Eight HI staff members committed themselves to one of the most challenging but vital tasks: clearing Ukraine’s land of hidden explosives enabling families to return home safely, restore livelihoods, and support the country’s economic recovery. Each cleared field, road, and community space not only reduces the risk of accidents but also opens the way for farming and housing reconstruction.


🇺🇦 Ukraine: After massive attack on Kyiv, bomb disposal experts recover parts of Russian missiles and 50 kg of explosives

In Darnytskyi district, specialists removed the spent propulsion section of a hypersonic missile. In Dniprovskyi district, they recovered about 50 kg of explosives from an enemy missile. Law enforcement officers will subsequently hand the items over for disposal in accordance with established procedures.


🇾🇪 Yemen: Project Masam destroys 6,021 landmines and explosive remnants of war in Yemen’s Bab al-Mandab

On Wednesday, Project Masam carried out a controlled demolition operation involving 6,021 mines, munitions and other explosive remnants of war in the Bab al-Mandab area of Taiz Governorate, western Yemen.


Engineering teams affiliated with the Armed Forces in the Sixth Military District of the Yemeni Army are continuing sweeping and demining operations, clearing explosive devices in sites and areas secured during the first phase of the military operation in Al-Jawf Governorate.


🌍 A 240% increase: New reports on the deadly legacy of cluster munitions

Cluster munitions continue to disproportionately impact civilians. Two major reports published this week – the Cluster Munition Monitor 2026 and Clearing Cluster Munition Remnants 2026 – set out both the scale of the problem and the progress being made to tackle it.


🌍 New report: Cluster Munition Monitor 2026

At least 1,063 people were killed or injured by cluster munitions in 2025, one of the highest annual casualty totals ever recorded according to the Cluster Munition Monitor 2026. The overwhelming majority – almost 9 out of 10 – of those harmed by cluster munitions in 2025 were civilians. Ukraine alone recorded at least 927 casualties in 2025, representing 87% of the global total and marking the fourth consecutive year in which it recorded the highest number of casualties worldwide.


🌊 NATO chief says Hormuz mine clearance 'not a NATO mission'

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on 10 September that the alliance is not conducting mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz, telling reporters during a visit to Berlin that the waterway lies beyond NATO territory, while individual member states assist the effort alongside the US.


🌊 Drones, unexploded ordnance increasingly found in NATO’s Black Sea waters: report

Discoveries of drones and other potentially explosive war debris in Turkish, Romanian and Bulgarian waters have more than tripled in six months as the Russia-Ukraine war spills further into the Black Sea, maritime risk firm Ambrey said Thursday.


Iran has captured a high-tech uncrewed submarine from the US navy amid a covert mission to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz. Read more here.


Other EO Finds from Around the Globe:


2. Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE)


🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: IEPF Launches Mine Awareness Project Across Azerbaijan’s Liberated Territories

The International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) has launched a new project aimed at raising public awareness of the dangers posed by landmines and explosive ordnance in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories. The “Support to the Fight against the Threat of Mines and Explosive Ordnance” project is being implemented with joint support from the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Karabakh Revival Fund, under the coordination of the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA).


🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea: A safer future for students in Buna

Students at a school in Papua New Guinea are learning how to stay safe around unexploded ordnance as HALO works to identify and remove explosive hazards from their community.


🇸🇾 Syria: War remnants in Syria threaten children as awareness becomes first line of defense

Children across Syria continue to face the dangers posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war, as awareness, survey and clearance efforts seek to protect them and ensure their safe return to areas contaminated by remnants left behind by the ousted regime.


🇾🇪 Yemen: Civilian reports lead Project Masam Teams to minefields and explosive hazards across Yemen

Project Masam highlights how EORE and community liaison are directly supporting clearance operations across Yemen. Reports from students, farmers, herders and residents have led teams to mines, IEDs and UXO near homes and livelihoods. In one Bab al-Mandab operation, civilian reporting contributed to the removal of 990 explosive hazards.

3. Accidents, Survivors, Victim Assistance


🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: Mine Blast Injures Demining Worker in Azerbaijan’s Khojaly

A demining worker was injured in a mine explosion in Dashkend village in Azerbaijan’s Khojaly district on September 10. The deminer suffered a leg injury after an anti-personnel mine exploded while he was carrying out his duties, according to the Mine Action Agency of the Azerbaijan Republic (ANAMA).


As of 1 September, Russian mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) had harmed 1,688 civilians since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine's Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety said. The figure breaks down into 1,515 adults and 173 children, with farmers the worst-hit occupational group at 296.


Other EO Accidents from Around the Globe:


4. Advocacy, Policy, Conventions, Strategies and Standards


🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: 4th International Mine Action Conference tackles the global threat of landmines

The 4th International Mine Action Conference examined the challenges of clearing contaminated land and supporting safe resettlement, with discussions focusing on demining, reconstruction, international cooperation and shared expertise.


The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday found a serious procedural gap in the evaluation of a Rs 1.44-crore bid for a mission-ritical underwater warfare system for the Indian Navy, holding that the record did not satisfactorily show that the mandatory scrutiny for an "abnormally low bid" was completed before the lowest bidder was selected.


🇱🇦 Laos Convention Puts Global Cluster Munition Ban To Test As Civilian Casualties Rise

The global effort to eliminate cluster-munition remnants will take centre stage as the international community gathers in Laos this week amid continued concerns over civilian casualties caused by the weapons. The Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions will be held in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, from Sept 14 to 18.


🇱🇧 🇮🇱 Lebanon/Israel: Hezbollah Used Cluster Munitions in Northern Israel

Human Rights Watch documents Hezbollah’s use of cluster munitions against the Israeli town of Zar’it on March 4, 2026, in violation of international law. The attack reportedly killed a civilian and injured another, while unexploded submunitions created ongoing risks. HRW calls on Hezbollah to halt use of cluster munitions and urges accountability for violations.


🇲🇾 Malaysia: ‘Scars of War’ exhibition in Penang highlights the human cost of landmines and unexploded ordnance

Penang’s “Scars of War” exhibition uses documentary photography and paintings to portray the lasting human impact of landmines, unexploded ordnance and cluster munitions. Featuring civilian victims and war-affected communities, the exhibition seeks to raise awareness of the enduring consequences of explosive hazards and reinforce calls for peace.


🇳🇴 🇺🇸 Norway: Why does Norwegian People's Aid say no to NOK 400 million from the United States?

The US Department of State has introduced new conditions for organisations that receive funding. Norwegian People's Aid believes that the conditions are contrary to their values, Norwegian policy and Norwegian law. NPA have therefore chosen to phase out our cooperation with the US Department of State as a donor to our mine and explosives clearance work.


🇳🇴 🇺🇸 Norway: Standing by our values

Norwegian People’s Aid has declined NOK 400 million in annual U.S. Department of State funding, arguing that new conditions restricting work on gender equality, diversity and human rights conflict with its organisational values. The decision could affect life-saving mine action programmes, but NPA says it will seek alternative funding to sustain operations.


🇺🇦 Ukraine: Billion-Dollar Demining: Can Ukraine Turn Land Clearance into Big Business?

Ukraine’s enormous contamination is creating a long-term commercial market for demining, including specialised machinery, services and technology. The emerging industry could attract substantial private investment, but regulatory barriers, limited financing and uncertainty over future demand remain obstacles to turning Ukraine’s clearance challenge into a sustainable, competitive business sector.


The ICRC calls for stronger implementation and universalization of the Convention on Cluster Munitions ahead of its September 2026 Review Conference in Laos. It highlights the long-term humanitarian impact of unexploded submunitions and urges states to reject normalisation of their use while strengthening clearance, victim assistance and rehabilitation.


🌍 Cluster Munitions: Ban Treaty Under Pressure

Human Rights Watch warns that cluster munition casualties reached at least 1,063 in 2025, among the highest totals recorded. Civilians accounted for 87% of casualties where status was known. Ahead of the September 2026 treaty review conference, HRW urges the 124 member states to reaffirm the ban amid renewed use, transfers and funding pressures.


🌍 2026 Monitor Warns of Growing Threats to Cluster Munition Ban

The 2026 Cluster Munitions Monitor reveals that casualties from this weapon are extremely high in 2025, with 1,063 people reported killed or injured. 87% of the reported casualties are civilians. Cluster munitions were used by Iran, Myanmar, Russia, Thailand, and Ukraine; other possible users could not be verified. Lithuania's withdrawal from the Convention in 2025 is another blow to its effectiveness. States will convene at the Convention's Third Review Conference on September 14–18 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, where they must reaffirm their commitment to the Convention.

5. Stockpile Destruction, Demolition, WAM and Disarmament


The clearing of the area around the Emco plant from unexploded ordnance and metal debris following the August 10 incident has been completed, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defence said on September 8. The arms plant was the site of a major blaze on August 10.


🇸🇾 Syria: Explosion of damaged ammunition in northwest al-Dumayr causes no casualties

An explosion took place on Saturday in the northwest of al-Dumayr city in Damascus Countryside, with no casualties or material losses reported. A security source highlighted that a number of damaged munitions exploded after they had been transported and stored in a remote warehouse in preparation for their disposal.

6. Research, Innovation, Technology and Market Trends

7. Mine Action Assistance, Funding and Cooperation


Slovakia plans to cooperate with Azerbaijan on demining the liberated territories, according to Slovak Ambassador to Azerbaijan Elcin Gasymov, who is visiting the Karabakh region as part of a delegation of representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps. According to him, the defense ministries of the two countries have reached an agreement on the matter. "We have agreed to send specialists from our Ministry of Defense to assist with demining the territories in Karabakh," the ambassador said.


🇰🇷 🇺🇳 S. Korea, UNDP sign agreement on mine removal cooperation

South Korea and a UN development body have signed an agreement on mine clearance cooperation, as part of Seoul's broader push to enhance public safety through global standards, the defense ministry said Wednesday. The ministry signed a statement of intent with the UN Development Program the previous day, under which they will share expertise and operational experience in mine clearance, the ministry said in a release.


🇸🇾 🇪🇺 Syria: Emergency Minister, EU delegation discuss disaster preparedness, mine clearance

Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh discussed Tuesday with a European Union delegation headed by Hans Das, Deputy Director-General of the European Civil Protection Directorate-General, ways to strengthen cooperation in emergency response, disaster risk reduction and national capacities in mine action.


🇸🇾 🇩🇪 Syria: German Delegation visits GCS Operations in Syria

A German delegation led by BMZ State Secretary Niels Annen visited Global Clearance Solutions’ operations in Kisweh, witnessing the first deployment of the GCS-100 mechanical clearance platform in Syria. The visit highlighted expanding Syrian capacity through trained local personnel, advanced technology and international cooperation, positioning mine action as an important component of reconstruction.

8. Other News


🇩🇪 Germany: A bomb job

The North Rhine-Westphalia police highlight the specialised work of bomb disposal personnel dealing with unexploded wartime ordnance in Germany. The piece provides insight into the technical expertise, risks and procedures involved in locating, assessing and safely neutralising WWII-era bombs that continue to be discovered decades after the conflict.


🇵🇭 🇫🇷 Philippines: French nabbed in NAIA over bomb joke

A 58-year-old French passenger bound for Cebu was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 on Friday after making a bomb-related statement during the check-in process. Investigators said the man was asked by airline staff to place his backpack on the baggage weighing counter. When asked about the contents of the bag, he allegedly said: “I have gun and a bomb.”


🇸🇬 Singapore: Pioneer soldier cleared WWII undersea mines and disposed of active bomb overseas

Winston Wong, one of Singapore’s pioneering bomb-disposal and naval-diving specialists, began by clearing WWII-era sea mines and unexploded ordnance. In 1978, he led a team that neutralised a 272kg aerial bomb in Bangladesh. His later work helped develop Singapore’s national EOD expertise and training capabilities.


🇸🇾 Syria: ‘A single wrong step’: Women deminers reach where men cannot to protect children in Syria

Areej Ali highlights the growing role of women in Syria’s mine-action response, with 31 women now working in operational roles for The HALO Trust in Idlib. Beyond clearance, women can access households and educate women and children in conservative communities. The article also highlights contamination’s impact on livelihoods, returns and reconstruction across Syria.


🇺🇦 Ukraine: Retrained in time of war

DanChurchAid profiles six Ukrainian women who left careers in fields including hairdressing, veterinary care, policing, automotive sales, bookkeeping and fashion design to become humanitarian deminers. Working in Mykolaiv, they are helping return contaminated land to communities, with DCA having already released 110 hectares while highlighting the potentially decades-long scale of Ukraine’s clearance challenge. Read more here.


🌍 Daniel Craig beyond James Bond: How the Hollywood actor became a global advocate against landmines

Daniel Craig, the former James Bond actor and UN Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards, is using his public profile to raise awareness of the enduring humanitarian threat posed by landmines. Having visited contaminated areas himself, Craig highlights the dangers faced by communities and the importance of sustained global support for mine action.


Bo Bischoff reflects on three decades in mine action, arguing that effective solutions depend on putting the right expertise, technology and people in the right context. His experience highlights the value of multidisciplinary approaches, adaptation to local conditions, persistence in developing untested ideas, and recognising when established methods need to evolve.

🎥 Video


The 4th International Mine Action Conference examined the challenges of clearing contaminated land and supporting safe resettlement, with discussions focusing on demining, reconstruction, international cooperation and shared expertise.

📅 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.


  • 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.


🔔 Always Stay in the Know – Never Miss an Update


This newsletter is subscribed to by over 3600+ dedicated readers on LinkedIn. To join this community of mine action professionals and supporters, go ahead and subscribe to the Mine Action Weekly newsletter. You can find all editions up to February 2026 on LinkedIn, and from March 2026 onwards here on Mine Action News.


Please reach out to me if there are any mine action news, journal articles, events, or updates that you would like to suggest for the next edition of Mine Action Weekly. You can find (and follow / connect with) me here. See you next Monday!

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