Afghanistan

The Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reached agreement in October 2023 on a framework for technical support through a Mine Action Technical Cell (MATC). This ended a disruptive, nearly two-year hiatus in institutional arrangements for management and coordination of the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA). Under the agreement, the MATC supported planning, tasking, and quality management and data entry into the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) database.

The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) reversed a decision to halt funding for operations through the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Mine Action (VTF). DMAC reaffirmed its commitment to fulfilling its Article 4 obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in a written statement to the Meeting of States Parties in September 2023. A Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) Article 5 deadline extension request sent in April 2024 restated Afghanistan’s ambition to complete clearance of cluster munitions remnants (CMR) in 2026.

• The authorities of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) should increase national funding to the mine action sector.
• The IEA and DMAC should enhance the engagement of women and minorities in mine action.
• DMAC should update its programme of work for fulfilling its CCM Article 4 obligations and completing clearance of remaining CMR contamination.

Click here to download the full "Clearing Cluster Munition Remnants 2024" report for Afghanistan.