OPERATIONS
Private funding and donations help
Funding shortages prevented MgM from becoming fully operational until February 2001. Some EOD activities were carried out in January and February, from the Ondjiva Operations Base in Cunene Province in support of returning IDPs to make their home areas safe. This was achieved with a limited but very helpful amount of private funding and donations of diesel from the Provincial Government, those these were in extremely short supply due to lack of deliveries from the main fuel depots in Namibe.
Retraining of all demining team members commenced on the 4th of February in the Ambriz Demining Base, in Bengo Province. The mechanics prepared all the demining support vehicles, while the MgM Paramedics carried out training for the local nurses to improve their abilities to serve the local population
Back to normal work
Full scale demining re-commenced on the 11th of February, on a minefield complex outside Ambriz, around the lake Yanga dia Vata. This is one of two minefield complexes that need to be cleared to make the area around Ambriz safe for all inhabitants, and for its future expansion. The second complex is a barrier minefield that was constructed to directly protect the town. Most of the minefield complex at Yanga dia Vata was cleared during year 2000, and the rest of the minefields in this complex, plus the protective barrier minefield were expected to be cleared during 2001.
The flood
By the end of May just about all the minefields, making up the complex at Yanga dia Vata, had been cleared. Only one major mined area remain, that between two hills. Unfortunately due to floodwaters from the Rio Loge, still swollen from the seasonal rains, this minefield was inaccessible. There are two other roads known to be mined, but they are not a direct threat to the local population, they are not required for use and by-passes have been put in place to avoid these routes.
Attacked again
The demining teams finished off working on the other minefields, were in the process of being re-deployed to start work on clearing the barrier minefield at the access to Ambriz, when the town was attacked by UNITA (FALA) forces. Unfortunately this has destabilised all the developmental work that was being achieved in the area, and unfortunately resulted in the removal of the MgM demining team from the town. This was mainly at the behest of the military authorities in the area who wished to retain the barrier minefield for the protection of Ambriz. It should be noted that the Civil Authorities of Ambriz requested that MgM return to the area to continue demining towards the end of the year. This could not be reacted to since all resources were operational on other emergency tasks. If possible this will be reconsidered during 2002.
Switch of emphasis because of the ongoing fights
Continued instability in Bengo Province, which culminated in a major military assault on the Provincial Capital of Caxito, prevented MgM from restarting demining operations. With agreement from Donors a switch in emphasis was made to enable MgM to support IDP resettlement programmes in Cunene Province in the South of Angola. This necessitated the transfer of the bulk of MgM’s armoured demining and other support vehicles to the Operations Base South at Ondjiva. Men, dogs and some light equipment were moved by WFP flights. The rest of the equipment and vehicles were sent by sea from Luanda to Namibe Port, and then driven via Lubango to Ondjiva. This way the convoy avoided any ‘hot spots’ on the road between Luanda and Lubango.
Assessment missions and survey
During this period of flux MgM carried out assessment missions and surveys in Angola for possible future clearance missions. These included the clearance of an ammunition dump in Bairro Madeira to the southern end of the International Airport in Luanda, the Benguela Railway from Huambo, and infrastructure support for WFP, MINARS and the Provincial Government in Cunene.
Emergency Task still waits for funding
The most drastic to look at was the ordnance stockpile at the end of the runway in Luanda. This used to be a very large depot until an accident in 1992 that resulted in one area of the depot being destroyed and ordnance being sprayed over a large area. Much of the ordnance, mostly aircraft deployed, that could be re-used was moved to a safer location the rest left out of sight. Luanda is continually undergoing expansion, due to the influx of displaced persons from the countryside, with one new Bairro being opened in on the site of this old ordnance dump. This was brought to the attention of MgM by INAROEE after accidents occurred there. Funds are still being sought to allow MgM to train and mobilise a specialist EOD Team to clear the Bairro before any more accidents occur.
See also the incredible picture galery BAIRRO here.
More requests
The mission to Huambo was at the request of the Provincial Governor, and is related to opening up initially around 100 kms of track. The first 40 kms is to the town of Ca’ala, this would allow food and other supplies to be moved to the IDP Camps around the town by rail, and then 60 kms of track from a branch line to the south of Ca’ala. This would have the benefit of supporting the IDP communities outside Huambo without having to put more pressure on the crumbling road network, and allow railway engineers to remove the unwanted track on the branch line, that will be restored for use on broken portions of the mainline. Eventually with the mainline open to Lobito building materials can be easily transported to Huambo, and Kuito, to facilitate reconstruction.
Working together closely:
MgM and the World Food Programme
Cunene, due to stability over most of the province, has few IDPs. What is lacking is access to communities to allow for food security, access to markets, and support from the Provincial Government to allow for schools and clinics to be restored. Missions were carried out with WFP to Cuvelai using MgM’s mine proofed vehicles for added safety. This highlighted the isolated nature of rural communities when roads are not travelled due to the threat of landmines.
A prominent mine victim
The accident to Governor Mutinde of Cunene when he drove over an anti-tank mine in June was a reminder to all, including the Government of Angola, that landmines are a danger to all the population of Angola. Fortunately he, and his passengers, survived the accident though the Governor suffered terrible injuries to his face and lost one foot. Ironically Governor Mutinde is the most vocal advocate of Angolan support to mine clearance of all the Provincial Governments, to the point of supporting MgM where and when provincial resources allow. This brought a renewed emphasis to mine clearance in Cunene, and also brought about adroit cooperation between the two demining organisations in Ondjiva, MgM and MAG (Mines Advisory Group).
Re-clearing old mine fields
MgM, along with MAG, restarted operations on the 16th of July at the site of the Governors accident at Humbe, across the River Cunene from Xangongo. Although Cap Anamur, a demining and medical support group who operated in Cunene from 1992 to 1994, kept no clearance records in those early days of demining, it was always considered that the area of the accident was clear of mines. Records were not kept due to renewed conflict in the area, which could be misconstrued as spying.
Collecting data and information
Further investigation by MgM’s Survey Team revealed that the Angolan Army (FAA) Engineers had a record of 173 anti-tanks mines been laid across a field in 1982, with the start point around where the Governor had his accident. This belt has been moved in 1983, but FAA obviously forgot some. Clearance of the area has revealed one more TM-57 plus one splash mark where another anti-tank mine has been detonated, probably by a cow, though no other mines have been located.
Nobody to blame
There is no prior bad clearance to blame, as earlier operators were told that the area was free from mines. But it was also revealed that the information given to the earlier operators was incomplete or wrong on purpose which means that many areas cleared in the early days by other groups will have to be re-cleared, since it has been admitted that possibly the clearance wasn’t carried out as methodically as is expected now.
And more attacks…
The problems in the North of Bengo Province continued through the middle part of the year, with attacks on the Nambuangongo area. This is an area that MgM spent over two years clearing of mines to allow IDPs to return safely, this was achieved by Christmas 1998. By this time the majority of the district population had spent the better part of seven years in an IDP camp outside Caxito, at Boa Esperança. Since 1999 the camp has been closed, with a few people remaining to keep it open as an unofficial village for the transit of foodstuff from their home areas to markets in Luanda.
IDP camp grows into mined area
Attacks in Nambuangongo by alleged FALA forces again displaced some of the population. Although as much as half the population remained in Nambuangongo, around 25.000 were displaced, walking the 100 kilometres to their old IDP camp. NPA Level One Mine Survey of Bengo showed that there had been reports of mines placed around the base of all pylons, running from the hydro-electric dam at Mabubas (north-east of Caxito) to the border with Luanda. This pylon line runs right through the Boa Esperança camp, and the displaced population was seen to be encamped in direct proximity to a number of these pylons.
Death lurks around the pylons
MgM dispatched an assessment team to carry out a Level Two survey of a number of these pylons, to prove the veracity of the reports. The first two pylons checked revealed 20 anti-personnel mines. Since people were now living within 10 metres of the pylons, with children playing in the area, and also people collecting grass for construction of temporary dwellings. MgM gained permission from the Provincial Government and INAROEE to be allowed to deploy a small team to remove all mines from around the bases of all pylons that created a direct threat to the IDPs. By the end of the year MgM had cleared around 18 pylons, removing 83 anti-personnel mines. Even Angola’s President Dos Santos came to see the MgM team to get a briefing on the danger and its solution.
Since the remaining pylons do not constitute an immediate humanitarian threat, the clearance project has now been suspended for the present. Also, since the Provincial and National Governments have provided funds for the rehabilitation of the hydro-electric power plant and pylon line, they can also provide funds for the clearance of the rest of the pylon bases.
More emergency demining
Between Boa Esperança and Caxito is another IDP Camp, Cambambe II. These people were displaced in 1999 from the Piri - Quibaxi, Bula Atumba and Pango Aluquem areas of north-east Bengo and the north of Kwanza Norte. Towards the end of the year a local landlord allocated farmland to some families. As the people were clearing the land, in preparation for the end of year rains, they located a number of mines. These were reported to the local authorities, who in turn informed MgM field personnel. An EOD Team was dispatched to the area, locating and removing five OZM 72 bounding fragmentation anti-personnel mines. These were found to be part of a line of mines that had been protecting a field prison, possibly used by the ANC. The areas were marked off for future clearance, when funds are available in year 2002. There still remains enough land for the families farming there to become self-sufficient.
Clearing the airport
The last task of the year carried out by MgM was the final confirmation clearance of all areas around Ondjiva Airport. This was to allow for up-grading the airfield to allow for transport aircraft to deliver aid shipments. As with other provincial airfields, like those at Kuito, Luena and Huambo, the blacktop of the Ondjiva airport is crumbling. In a concerted effort by the Provincial Government to be able to support the rural population of Cunene, this airport is needed so the small aircraft belonging to the Provincial Government can distribute aid, delivered by larger aircraft, to isolated communities.
NPA and MAG have cleared areas around this airport before, though no definitive work has been completed to make sure all areas have been cleared. MgM deployed its Voodoo system comprising of two mine proofed Wolf command and control vehicles, two armoured F12 Graders, two explosive vapour detection dog teams and a section of deminers. Over 1 million square metres was checked, UXO was removed and the area proved clear of landmines and other ordnance, leaving the area safe for reconstruction teams to start work on reparation.
