The European Commission, through its Foreign Policy Instruments Service (FPI), has provided new funding to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Sudan. This funding aims to support demining activities to improve the security of civilians, access for NGOs and humanitarian aid, and rapid recovery in conflict-affected areas.
This contribution of 3 million euros is intended to support the implementation of an 18-month project titled “Rebuilding Sudan: Mine Action for Recovery,” as stated in a press release published on Monday on the website of the European Union Delegation to Sudan.
Various parties involved expect this project to address the widespread contamination of explosive ordnance in accessible urban and peri-urban areas, accommodating a large number of people returning to their homes, particularly in the capital city of Khartoum.
Since April 2023, the war in Sudan has led to massive contamination by unexploded ordnance (mines, rockets) in residential areas and infrastructure, particularly in Khartoum. This direct threat to civilians hinders the return of over 4 million displaced persons, making demining crucial for security, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction in 2026.
Kazumi Ogawa, Director of UNMAS, acknowledged that “explosive ordnance still poses a deadly threat to families seeking to return home in Sudan.” With the EU’s support, UNMAS will prioritize demining areas and contribute to creating the necessary conditions for safe returns and recovery.
The improvement in security and access will benefit nearly 1.7 million people, including 700,000 civilians directly and over a million indirectly through the resumption of humanitarian aid and essential services (health, education, water, food).
The press release emphasizes that this action complements the EU’s current humanitarian assistance in Sudan by prioritizing more systematic and targeted demining, thus promoting rapid recovery and reconstruction.
UNMAS pledges to implement the project in close coordination with national authorities, humanitarian and recovery partners, and the entire mine action community.
