Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mine Action

Humanitarian demining Capacity building

FSD was active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 2003 and 2005, responding to a United Nations request to establish emergency landmine clearance teams to support local communities and humanitarian organisations.

Former battlefields littered with explosive remnants of war

Since 1996, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has experienced successive conflicts of varying intensity, resulting in numerous civilian casualties and significant contamination by explosive remnants of war. Unexploded munitions left behind on former battlefields posed a major threat to local communities and hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Emergency teams deployed

FSD’s involvement in the DRC began in November 2003 at the request of UNMAS, with the objective of establishing two emergency demining teams to assist local populations and humanitarian organisations in Bunia. These teams operated under the responsibility of the Mine Action Coordination Centre created by the United Nations in Kinshasa as part of its peacekeeping mission. Around twenty local staff members were recruited and trained by FSD. In 2007, FSD was also mandated to conduct an underwater assessment mission following the suspension of rehabilitation works at the Port of Mbandaka, after explosive ordnance had been discovered along the quay.