Mine action

Demining includes: the neutralisation and disposal of explosive devices; the preliminary surveys aimed at determining the location of contaminated areas; the mapping and marking of these areas.

To date, FSD deminers have identified and destroyed nearly 1.4 million mines and unexploded ordnance. An area equivalent to more than four times the city of Paris.

Current operations

Mine clearance is a long and arduous work. Until the land is safe, the best way to prevent accidents is to educate people living near contaminated areas of the risks of explosive ordnance so they can adopt a safe behaviour.

Through presentations in villages and schools, more than 2.7 million people, most of them children, have learned to spot mines and unexploded ordnance and know what to do to stay safe when confronted to this danger.

Current operations

Mine action programmes are often implemented quickly after the end of a conflict, in countries still severely affected by years of conflicts. Coordination is then assumed by international NGOs or the United Nations.

The aim, however, is for the governments of the countries concerned to be able to take responsibility for mine action operations as soon as possible.

In this context, FSD helps to strengthen the skills of the national authorities to enable them to coordinate mine action on their territory autonomously and efficiently.

Current operations