DHAKA: Bangladesh has become a part of the celebration of independence of South Sudan as Bangladeshi peacekeepers erected the flagpole of the newly independent African nation.
Bangladesh Sector (Sector-1) is proud to assist South Sudan, which is going to celebrate historic independence today.
Erection of flagpole at the highest point of South Sudan was a need of UNMIS in order to hoist the flag and celebrate South Sudan's independence, an ISPR release said in Dhaka on Friday.
The task was assigned to BANENGR-2/11 (Construction) by the chief engineer of Sector-1.
The work was attempted by a special flight request on June 27 and 10 persons of BANENGR team under the command of Captain Bipul Kumar Goon prepared the flagpole in Juba and carried all other construction items to the site so that the pole can be erected within the shortest possible time.
However, BANENGR team was accompanied by Sudan TV journalists and UNMIS public information officer, the release said.
Indeed, the flagpole was erected successfully at about 10,000 ft on the highest tip of South Sudan at Mount Kinyeta near Nimule within two hours.
Bangladesh Sector (Sector-1) is proud to assist South Sudan, which is going to celebrate historic independence today.
Erection of flagpole at the highest point of South Sudan was a need of UNMIS in order to hoist the flag and celebrate South Sudan's independence, an ISPR release said in Dhaka on Friday.
The task was assigned to BANENGR-2/11 (Construction) by the chief engineer of Sector-1.
The work was attempted by a special flight request on June 27 and 10 persons of BANENGR team under the command of Captain Bipul Kumar Goon prepared the flagpole in Juba and carried all other construction items to the site so that the pole can be erected within the shortest possible time.
However, BANENGR team was accompanied by Sudan TV journalists and UNMIS public information officer, the release said.
Indeed, the flagpole was erected successfully at about 10,000 ft on the highest tip of South Sudan at Mount Kinyeta near Nimule within two hours.
South Sudan: The Role of Bangladeshi Military Deminers
Commonly Found Mines
Because the Sudan Armed Forces and SPLA used different sources to procure mines, both mines produced by NATO and ex-Warsaw Pact countries have been found in South Sudan. Bangladeshi deminers have primarily found the TM46 anti-tank mine and M14 anti- personnel mine, but they have also recovered and disposed of TM57 and PRB M3 anti-tank mines. In addition, they have disposed of Type 58, PMN, T72, PRB M35, TS 50, POMZ 2 and Type 69 anti-personnel mines as well as unknown types. On the other hand, booby traps and tripwires have not yet been found in South Sudan minefields.
Requirement of Military Deminers
Until the 1980s, mine clearance was only a sector for combat engineers of different armies. When civilian demining companies began to get involved, professionals such as police officers, dog handlers and construction plant operators of the corps of engineers began working as deminers. Military deminers have an advantage over private companies and nongovernmental organizations in that they already have experience working in hostile environments. As a result, they can help lay the groundwork for other de-mining and humanitarian agencies to work in areas of recent conflict. The military deminers mainly work as the peacekeeping force for U.N. missions in which peace enforcement is included in the mandated tasks.
The author (center) with the schoolchildren after his informal MRE presentation at Lobonok, South Sudan.
The author (center) with the schoolchildren after his informal MRE presentation at Lobonok, South Sudan.
Photo courtesy of Bangladesh Military Demining Company
Technical Survey and Manual Demining
Bangladeshi deminers began clearing Juba township and the surrounding neighborhood, the U.N. compound and the office areas for different ministries of South Sudan in March 2006. Until September 2009, the Bangladeshi Company engaged 137 sappers5 in humanitarian demining. By the end of March 2010, the deminers cleared approximately 2,628,858 square meters (650 acres) of land for safe use. In the process, the Bangladeshi deminers destroyed 6,358 anti-personnel mines and 399 anti-tank mines. Bangladeshi deminers worked in the following four minefields: Gudele with 13,137 square meters (three acres) cleared, Khor Ramla with 14,400 square meters (four acres) cleared, Mafao with 219,666 square meters (54 acres) cleared and Rajaf with 80,575 square meters (20 acres) cleared.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
The EOD teams job was a technical one, often conducting sensitive spot tasks in risky situations. Occasionally, this activity resulted in the detonation of UXO on site. It is up to the team leader to judge the situations and positions of the UXO. The team never performs any task without providing early warning to the local community. When a half-buried aerial bombs position in a grave demanded an in situ disposal, the team discussed the situation with the locals, hoping to receive permission to detonate the bomb. Unfortunately, the local population became agitated; therefore, the team postponed the task and started dialogues with different members of the society, and the bomb has not yet been detonated. Negotiations are continuing with the tribal leaders. The EOD team destroyed 31,523 pieces of UXO and is in the process of disposing over 14,000 kilograms (30,864 pounds) of outdated explosives received from the SPLA.
Battle Area Clearance
Bangladeshi military deminers have aided the local population through the clearance of battle areas. In particular, they cleared the Custom Market area, different ministry office areas, a 24,000 square meters (six-acre) dairy and poultry farm area near Mafao, a 41,000 square meters (10-acre) area near Jebel Kujoor, and numerous danger areas in Juba city. Through March 2010, the military deminers also cleared 1,408,800 square meters (348 acres) for the new United Nations Mission in Sudan headquarters.
Other Significant Contributions
In addition to demining, the military conducted the following activities:
Clearing chemical hazards from all of Juba city
Disposing of 9,485 landmines from Sudan Armed Forces
and 5,000 landmines from SPLA in accordance with the Ottawa Convention
Providing health-care support to the local communities
Conducting mine-awareness activities during the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action and the International Day of Disabled Persons
Visiting local schools to conduct informal mine-risk education for children
Explosive-ordnance-disposal operators disposing of UXO stockpiles in Mugoro village.
Explosive-ordnance-disposal operators disposing of UXO stockpiles in Mugoro village.
Photo courtesy of Bangladeshi Military Demining Company
Challenges
Demining in South Sudan is an ongoing challenge. Weather, road conditions and the hostile attitude of some groups and tribes can restrict the deminers mobility to the remote minefields and danger areas. Unorthodox mine-laying patterns and interaction with local wildlife can pose additional stress to the deminers in their work.
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Conclusion
Hidden mines and UXO are a continual threat to aid workers, deminers and the local population of South Sudan. Rough weather, rugged terrain, restrictions on movement in the area of operations, working far away from their families and even occasionally watching their comrades sustain injuries represent the working conditions for deminers. Despite working under tremendous physical and mental stress, the deminers rarely received recognition for risking their lives. However, their motivation is clear: the happy faces of the villagers upon the safe return of cleared land for cultivation or community use.J