The Japanese ambassador in Juba says the use of Unexploded Ordinances in the South Sudan conflict has increased the risks of explosives in areas of public services.

Kiya Masahiko says more than three hundreds schools and a number of water points, including health facilities have been contaminated by explosive devices, mainly, rockets, grenades and mortars which were used during fighting since 2013.

“More 300 schools were contaminated by un-exploded devices and they cleared 65 schools since, then and then at water points they cleared 600, and other water points and then hospitals. One hundred in the last three years,” said Amb. Masahiko

He says the last two years have experienced the highest level of explosive incidents.

Mr. Masahiko told Eye Radio on Friday that due to the proliferation of the Unexploded Ordnance, the Japanese government has donated nearly a millions US dollar to help clear the affected areas.

“It was just last month that we made a commitment of 900,000 US dollar equivalent support in this field in collaboration with HAMAS- United Nations Mine Action Service,” he said.

In November 2011, South Sudan made banning anti-personnel mines one of its first multilateral commitments since becoming independent.

The ratification of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or Ottawa Convention, meant that South Sudan made a commitment to clear mines on its territory, to assist landmine survivors and to never, under any circumstances, use anti-personnel mines.

However, 3 years later, armed groups started using mines and UXOs to advance war.

Unexploded Ordnance, known as UXO, is remnant of bombs, shells, grenades, land mines, naval mines, cluster munition, etc that did not explode when they were employed. These explosives pose a risk of detonation, sometimes for many decades.

The public is often advice to contact Mine Advisory Group, UNMAS or authorities in event they see a suspicious object, and never to use abandoned buildings or roads.