UNFICYP data indicate that there are 47 suspected hazardous areas in Cyprus that may be contaminated with mines and/or ERW (explosive remnants of war), amounting to approximately 1.7 million square meters of land. An UNFICYP data factsheet, update October 2018, says that 199,783m² of land released in the occupied areas since August 2016 to remove the threat of mines and to facilitate confidence building measures, agricultural activities and livelihood activities. According to the figures, 7 anti-tank mines recovered and destroyed and six mortars removed and a total of 121,891m² of land released and unexploded ordnance (UXO) removed in the buffer zone, through battle area clearance and technical survey to facilitate safe operations for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), confidence building measures, and agricultural activities. In July 2016, UNMAS (The United Nations Mine Action Service) became an integral component of UNFICYP, providing dedicated expertise in mine action planning and coordination, operational demining capacity in 2016-17, quality assurance oversight of United Nations demining operations and data management of mine action information. The objectives of UNMAS operations are to reduce the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), to contribute to confidence building measures, to facilitate a return to normal living conditions and to ensure safer freedom of movement for UNFICYP, UN partners and communities. UNMAS also provides assistance to the Committee on Missing Persons to facilitate safe access to areas it conducts activities and technical guidance to UNFICYP for small arms ammunition storage. UNMAS activities facilitate the achievement of UNFICYP’s mandated objectives as described in UN Security Council Resolution 2430 (July 2018), and support progress towards a mine-free Cyprus. According to UNFICYP, UNMAS assistance is focused on the removal of mines and ERW that create barriers between communities and threaten peace. UNMAS operations contribute to confidence building measures and enable progress towards the implementation of a final settlement agreement. Each of the 47 areas that are suspected hazardous areas, requires survey to determine the need for clearance. To prepare for future surveys and clearance, UNMAS conducts planning and coordination. Furthermore, a data analysis and management of information on minefields and suspected hazardous areas is conducted and assessments are prepared. The activities help ensure that survey and clearance can get underway to safe land to communities as soon as access is authorised by the sides. UNMAS conducts advocacy and outreach activities to raise awareness and promote a mine-free Cyprus, provides training in mine/ERW awareness for UNFICYP personnel to help increase force protection and the implementation of UNFICYP activities, supports planning and coordination of UN activities and implements the establishment or maintenance of minefield marking, as needed. UNMAS Cyprus is funded by the United Nations peacekeeping assessed budget for UNFICYP (latest funding for the 2018- 19 fiscal year ending 30 June 2019). The resources cover technical capacity for planning and coordination awareness training for UNFICYP personnel, advocacy activities, and data management of mine action information. The last demining took place in 2017 in the area of Denia, Nicosia district. As of April 2019, eighteen areas, nine in the Republic of Cyprus and nine in the occupied areas, had been identified as suspected of being dangerous due to the presence of mines, and which could be demined, as part of the Confidence Building Measure. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. The buffer zone, a strip of land controlled by the UN, is separating the northern Turkish-occupied areas from the southern government-controlled part of the country. The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed on April 4.
Source: Cyprus News Agency