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Philippines

In the Philippines, FSD educates the local populations of the risks of explosive ordnance on the island of Mindanao and supports the ongoing peace process through mine action.

Maintaining-a-close-link-with-the-population-is-essential-for-successful-mine-action-operations-(Philippines)-

A farmer points out the location of an improvised mine to a member of FSD survey team (Philippines, 2019)

Context

Mindanao Island, in the south of the Philippines, has known decades of conflicts between different rebel groups and the Philippine government. Each period of conflict has left behind unexploded or abandoned ammunition, putting in danger the lives of the inhabitants of the region.

Following several peace agreements between rebel groups and the government, the movement of the region towards autonomy accelerated.

In this context, FSD was encouraged to develop a mine action programme implying the collaboration of all parties to the peace agreement, in order to restore trust between them. 

 

We were told that a 9 years old child found a mortar shell close to the lake and brought it back home to play with it

Merlene Usman-Degay

Community Liaison Officer for FSD in the Philippines

Merlene Usman-Degay - Community Liaison Officer for SDF in the Philippines
Philippines

Mine clearance

FSD implements surveys in localities suspected to be contaminated by unexploded ordnance or improvised mines. These improvised devices became more and more frequent and reproduce the technologies encountered in Iraq or in Syria. When the presence of explosive ordnance is confirmed, FSD facilitates the intervention of Philippine armed forces for the neutralisation of the explosive hazard.

FSD additionally surveys mine accidents and keep the collected information in a data base to contribute to the development of an efficient demining strategy.

Non technical surveys, Philippines
Philippines

Risk education

FSD and its network of volunteers conduct risk awareness sessions in villages affected by the conflict. More than 280,000 people now know how to react if they face an unexploded grenade or an improvised mine.

An online prevention campaign is also implemented on social media via the local FSD Facebook page.

Mine risk education in Mindanao, Philippines
Philippines

Capacity building

FSD assumes the role of national mine action centre in the Bangsamoro autonomous region, providing advise and technical assistance to local authorities to help them plan and prioritize demining operations. FSD additionally coordinates mine victim assistance activities through the CICR, when it is possible. 

The final objective of this project is for the Bangsamoro autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao to have its own mine action centre to coordinate the work of the different demining organisations in the region. FSD will have the mission to pass the torch to this new entity, in partnership with the local NGO Philippine campaign to Ban Landmines. 

capacity_building_mindanao_philippines

FSD in Philippines

FSD started to work in Mindanao Island with a programme to support the peace process in 2006. (…)
FSD implement this programme in collaboration with the Association FSD France.
CENTIMETRE After CENTIMETRE

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Our activities

Our humanitarian programmes focus on four main areas.

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Mine action

FSD locates and clears mines and unexploded ordnance, provides explosive ordnance risk education and assists survivors of accidental explosions.

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Recovery & stability

FSD supports ongoing peace processes in various countries and provides socio-economic support to communities.

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Environment

FSD remediates sites contaminated by toxic pollutants inherited from the past and act to promote biodiversity and resilience to face climate change. 

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Innovation & technology

FSD collaborates on research projects aiming to put new technologies, such as drones, at the service of mine action.

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