UNMAS

UNMAS, the United Nations Mine Action Service, is the UN system-wide service dedicated to coordinating and delivering mine action and explosive hazard management to reduce civilian risk and safeguard humanitarian operations in conflict-affected areas. It provides strategic guidance, technical expertise, and field support to help UN entities, humanitarian actors, and host governments address mines, explosive remnants of war, and improvised explosive devices.

Established in 1997 to unify and strengthen UN mine action efforts, UNMAS works across countries through UN country teams and field offices, coordinating survey, risk education, clearance, explosive ordnance disposal, and victim assistance in partnership with national authorities and donors. Its activities aim to reduce casualties, enable safe humanitarian access, and support longer-term development and rehabilitation.

Core activities include risk education and community awareness; hazard mapping and survey; clearance and EOD; stockpile destruction and weapons risk management; capacity-building for national mine action authorities; and policy development and advocacy to improve standards and national ownership. UNMAS also provides security risk management and security assessments to UN missions and humanitarian operations to safeguard personnel and operations.

Geographically, UNMAS operates wherever explosive hazards impede humanitarian access or development work, delivering programmatic support to UN and NGO partners in numerous conflict-affected settings. Organizationally, UNMAS is part of the UN Secretariat and relies on voluntary contributions from member states and other donors. It collaborates with host governments, national mine action centers, international organizations, NGOs, and the broader UN system to deliver integrated mine action programs and promote durable safety and resilience for affected communities.