UNMAS is a precious resource inside the United Nations. It works professionally, quickly and efficiently. Its actions are driven by humanitarian needs. UNMAS is an essential component in achieving peace, security and stabilization, and as an enabler of UN peace missions. I call on Governments, corporations and individuals to provide the maximum support for UNMAS, as its staff go about their work saving lives and making conflict zones safe for all.
Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
United Nation mine action work is evolving. The expertise that the United Nations developed over decades of demining is today being applied to mitigate all sorts of conventional explosive hazards, from unsafe ammunition storage facilities to countering improvised explosive devices.
UNMAS (United Nations Mine Action Service) is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problems posed by a wide range of hazards.
UNMAS is an active component of peacekeeping and special political missions throughout the world in accordance with Security Council mandates. UNMAS intervenes at the request of Member States and United Nations Country Teams in the context of humanitarian emergencies.
UNMAS provides critical support for the protection of civilians, peacekeeping, humanitarian relief and development. UNMAS enables United Nations staff to deploy rapidly and refugees and internally displaced persons to return safely to their homes and resume their lives without fear.
Using specialized equipment UNMAS experts clean up and dispose of unsafe and unsecured stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, improvised explosive devices, landmines, unexploded ordnance and cluster munitions.
UNMAS also supports demobilization, disarmament and reintegration processes in post-conflict settings. Permanently destroying surplus or obsolete weapons contributes to peacebuilding and stabilization. UNMAS builds facilities, brings equipment and trains national security service personnel to dispose of guns and ammunition.
UNMAS has a Rapid Response and Technical Support Capacity prepared and equipped to quickly mitigate threats. When the United Nations system or a Government needs urgent assistance, UNMAS can deploy a team within 72 hours.
Mine action is about much more than mines in the 21st century.