The United Nations Mine Action Service said it has cleared nearly 150 million square meters of hazardous land in Moroccan Sahara since the start of its operations under the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in the Sahara, underscoring the scale of contamination and the continued risks posed by explosive remnants of war.
In a statement, the U.N. body said more than 30,000 landmines and other explosive ordnance have been identified and destroyed, describing mine action as a critical tool for protecting civilians and enabling conditions for peace and stability.
UNMAS highlighted the work of its clearance teams, operating alongside military partners west of the security berm, in reducing threats from unexploded ordnance and securing affected areas. The berm, a sand wall stretching across the disputed territory, separates areas controlled by Morocco from those held by the Polisario Front.
The agency also emphasized prevention efforts, noting it conducted 28 risk education sessions over the past 10 months, reaching 145 people. Participants included U.N. military observers and nomadic herders who had recently arrived in contaminated areas.
MINURSO has previously warned that landmines continue to pose a threat to civilians in several areas, including southern provinces, despite ongoing clearance efforts.
Analysts say the renewed focus on mine action within the mission comes as discussions intensify at the United Nations Security Council and within the United States administration over a potential review of MINURSO’s mandate, amid shifting political and security dynamics in the region.
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