Land Cruisers donated by UNMAS and JICA to SSNMAA Photo credit: Wol Mapal/Eye Radio

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has handed over vehicles and operational equipment to South Sudan under the implementation of a $2.2 million grant project aimed at strengthening the country’s national mine action capacity.

The handover, held in Juba on Tuesday, marks a major milestone in the implementation of the 18-month project, which was launched in October last year to improve the working environment of mine action agencies and build the operational capacity of the National Mine Action Authority (NMAA).

The donated assets include seven Toyota Land Cruisers, 12 motorbikes, unexploded ordnance detectors, survey equipment and other technical tools to improve the mobility of mine action teams conducting surveys, explosive ordnance risk education and other field operations in contaminated communities.

The project covers Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap and Western Bahr el Ghazal states, where landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to threaten civilians and hinder humanitarian access and development.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, UNMAS South Sudan Chief Mine Action Officer-in-Charge Borys Pokalyuk said the equipment represents a long-term investment in South Sudan’s national mine action institutions.

“Mine action is not just about clearing land, it is about creating the conditions for peace, recovery, and sustainable development. Japan’s support, through JICA, strengthens NMAA’s ability to protect communities and facilitate humanitarian access, and greatly supports South Sudan in meeting its obligations as a State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, including its Article 5 obligation to clear all known mined areas, and other key treaties.”

Japan’s Ambassador to South Sudan, Toshio Odagiri, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting humanitarian mine action in South Sudan.

“Today’s handover reflects Japan’s unwavering commitment to supporting the people of South Sudan. I sincerely hope that this equipment will strengthen NMAA’s capacity to protect lives and bring South Sudan closer to a mine-free future. Japan will continue to stand alongside South Sudan, through UNMAS, JICA, and our broader partnership, until all children can safely walk to school, all families can freely cultivate their land, and all communities can look forward to a future free from fear.”

Representing JICA, Senior Representative Tomohiro Suzuki said the donated equipment forms a key component of the grant project and expressed hope that it will be effectively utilized to achieve its objectives.

“Today, we officially handed over the vehicles, motorcycles, and operational equipment. We sincerely hope that all of these assets will be properly managed and effectively utilized under this project. We also hope that they will contribute to the achievement of the project’s objectives and, through this project, make a significant contribution to realizing a safe and mine-free society, as well as advancing efforts toward the completion of landmine clearance by 2030.”

The Chairperson of the National Mine Action Authority, Hon. Jurkuch Barach Jurkuch, described the handover as another milestone in a partnership that has strengthened the institution’s operational and institutional capacity.

“This partnership, implemented through UNMAS, has strengthened the NMAA’s institutional and operational capacity and reinforced national ownership of mine action. Today’s handover is another important milestone in that shared commitment. The vehicles and equipment you saw on your way in today, will enhance the mobility of our Survey and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education teams, enabling them to reach more communities, deliver life-saving education, and coordinate mine action operations more effectively across South Sudan.”

When the project was launched in October 2025, UNMAS said it would provide technical mentoring, on-the-job training and operational support to the National Mine Action Authority, refurbish its offices in Juba and Wau, deploy six survey and explosive ordnance risk education teams, and supply vehicles and explosive ordnance disposal equipment.

Tuesday’s handover represents one of the project’s major deliverables and demonstrates progress in implementing Japan’s grant assistance.

South Sudan remains heavily contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war, with an estimated 21 square kilometers of hazardous land still requiring clearance. According to UNMAS, children account for more than 80 percent of explosive ordnance casualties recorded over the past five years.

The project also supports South Sudan’s obligations under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, following the country’s extension of its Article 5 clearance deadline to 2030, and contributes to the national goal of creating a mine-free South Sudan while improving humanitarian access, livelihoods and socio-economic development.

Japan has been one of South Sudan’s longest-standing partners in humanitarian mine action through UNMAS. Since 2011, the Government of Japan has contributed more than US$16 million to mine action programs in South Sudan, supporting explosive ordnance surveys and clearance, emergency response, risk education for vulnerable communities, and institutional capacity building for the National Mine Action Authority.