Afghanistan
As of 19 September, 1,876 impacted communities have been surveyed and the data entered into the database (14% high, 21% medium, 65% low impact). A third of these impacted communities report a landmine/UXO incident within the past two years accounting for 2,130 victims. Forty percent of the victims died as a result of the incident. Almost 29% of the suspected hazard areas (SHA) are on mountain tops. Although 90% of the survey has been completed, the remaining 10% in the southern provinces will be the most logistically challenging. MACA to hold strategic plan review session in early 2005 to incorporate LIS data into revised plan.
 
SAC Director Bob Eaton and Germany's Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger sign 125,000 euro contract on 21 September to be applied to the Landmine Impact Survey in Afghanistan. Click here to view two photographs from the signing. Click here to view the press release by the German Embassy.

Angola
As of 24 September, a total of 429 surveys have been conducted in impacted communities. Of these, HALO Trust has conducted 217 surveys, NPA has conducted 91, MAG 55, Santa Barbara 22, InterSOS 44, and INAD is about to begin in Lunda Norte. A total of 1,098 communities have been visited as a result of suspecting contamination by POC processes with a 37% false positive rate. For quality assurance purposes, 696 communities that were not suspected of landmine/UXO contamination were visited as part of sampling for false negatives.

Azerbaijan
The executive summary, final report, and data map from the LIS in Azerbaijan is now available on our website. (Click here and look for the three links in the yellow box on the right-hand edge)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
The final report has been printed and distributed. The executive summary, final report, and data map are also available on our website. (Click here and look for the three links in the yellow box on the right-hand edge)

Eritrea
UNDP Mine Action Capacity Building Program has completed their review of the draft of the final report. The Eritrean government is now reviewing it.

Ethiopia
Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) reviewing final report.

Somalia (Phase 1: Awdal, Galbeed, Sahil and Togdheer Regions)
The executive summary, final report, and data map from Phase 1 of the LIS in Somalia is now available on our website. (Click here and look for the three links in the yellow box on the right-hand edge)

Somalia (Phase 2: Bari, Nugaal and Mudug Regions)
SAC signs a memorandum of understanding with the Puntland Mine Action Center on 9 September to conduct an LIS in the Puntland state of Somalia. Click here to view two photographs from the signing. The SAC team is presently setting up their office in preparation for interviewer recruitment and training. Eight PMAC National Staff members started fulltime service on the LIS as of 1 September.

Survey Action Center
Bethany Champagne, an intern from Canada’s Youth Mine Action Ambassador Program, has joined SAC to work on developing materials for the Nairobi Review Conference. Supervised by Bob Eaton, she reports to the ICBL’s Mine Action Working Group. Click here to meet Bethany.