HAMAP-Humanitaire took part in the International Conference on new technologies and innovation in humanitarian demining in Bogota, Colombia, on 19 and 20 October 2016.

Drawing on HAMAP-Humanitaire's long experience in the sector, Estelle Mariette, coordinator of mine action projects, presented the new clearance technologies HAMAP-Humanitaire uses in its training of deminer trainers. She also proposed a project the association could set up in Colombia, in partnership with EAFIT University and the Fondation des Territoires de Demain.

 

Since the 1960s Colombia has faced a major civil war involving several far-left guerrilla groups, far-right paramilitary militias and the armed forces. In total this armed conflict has caused the deaths of 260,000 people; 45,000 people have disappeared and 6.9 million Colombians have been displaced. On 26 September Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos signed a historic peace agreement with Rodrigo Londono, commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), bringing 52 years of armed conflict to an end. Although the Colombian people, consulted by referendum on 2 October, voted « no » to the peace agreement by a very narrow majority (50.2%), the bilateral ceasefire is being maintained and the president intends to continue his efforts in the country's peace process. The government of Colombia has also announced that on 27 October it would begin peace negotiations with the other Colombian guerrilla group, the ELN (National Liberation Army).

Over the two days of the international conference, many new technologies were presented, some still in development, others already operational, which will help meet the challenge of clearing the improvised explosive devices that predominate in the country. The conference also aimed to bring all efforts together to optimise the country's humanitarian demining capacity, in order to reduce the number of mine victims and improve the safety of civilians.

 

HAMAP'S EXPERIENCE

The presentation was an opportunity to recall the mine action projects run by HAMAP-Humanitaire, notably in Cambodia, Mauritania and Benin.

Benin (2006-2013):

HAMAP-Humanitaire ran clearance training for the National Humanitarian Demining Centre in Ouidah: the CPADD

The training is delivered in line with international mine action standards and adapts to the needs of African countries affected by minefields and other explosive remnants of war:

– Training of trainers in basic demining and clearance techniques

– Training of staff responsible for planning and managing humanitarian demining operations

– Training of section leaders specialising in supervising demining and explosive clearance units

– Training of quality assurance and quality control inspectors

– Training of explosives technicians (up to level 3)

– Basic training in humanitarian demining techniques

– Awareness of the danger of mines and explosive ordnance

– Refresher training for demining and clearance trainers and specialists

– Pre-deployment courses for military and civilian staff on peacekeeping missions or humanitarian programmes.

Mauritania (2013):

– Information and advocacy campaigns with local administrative and municipal authorities

– 2 training-of-trainers sessions on communication techniques and on the dangers of mines, for 50 representatives of local NGOs

– 2 public awareness campaigns

– Follow-up of the training of trainers through debriefing sessions and individual and collective evaluation