Takeshi Okubo, Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority, examines telltale aircraft bomb fragments that led UNMAS to a 2000lbs unexploded aircraft bomb 12 meters below ground. (Photo Credit: UNMAS)

JERUSALEM, April 19, 2017 (WAFA) - Japan has contributed $905,650 to UNMAS (United Nations Mine Action Service) through the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action to continue protecting civilians and supporting reconstruction in Gaza, a press release said on Wednesday.

This fund, in addition to $3 million provided in 2015 and $500,000 in 2016, Japan has contributed to UNMAS, helped clear and destroy 29 tons of explosive material in Gaza, said the press release by the UN group.

“This protects Gaza communities by removing thousands of unexploded remnants of war, including 149 unexploded aerial bombs,” it said. “Moreover, the presence of explosive hazards in debris of destroyed or damaged infrastructure makes clean-up efforts extremely dangerous and obstructs socio-economic development.”

The mine clearance efforts “have returned a sense of security to families living, farming and building in areas they knew to be contaminated,” it said.

It gave the example of al-Athamna family in Beit Hanoun whose back garden was off s to  the family children until UNMAS removed and destroyed the explosive remnants of war (ERW) buried underneath.

“This family is one of the approximately 1,500 direct beneficiaries living in approximately 220 housing units in proximity to hazardous sites suspected of hiding sub-surface ERW. With reconstruction and rehabilitation projects ongoing, it is imperative that such deep buried ERW are cleared before a building is manually and mechanically processed, to avoid accidental detonation of buried unexploded ordnance.”

In 2016, UNMAS ERW risk mitigation support – risk assessments, risk mitigation training, and 24/7 explosive ordnance disposal support – has been crucial to ensuring the safe progress of 92 reconstruction projects, including some funded by the Government of Japan, all across Gaza, said the press release.

UNMAS also continues to work closely with UNICEF and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to reduce ERW related accidents through the widespread delivery of ERW risk education in the entire Gaza Strip.

 "UNMAS‘s activities in Gaza are the fundamental part of Gaza Reconstruction and we highly evaluated the achievement they have made so far. UNMAS plays an integral role not only to protect civilians but also to make reconstruction work go forward through their project," said Takeshi Okubo, ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority.

"Japan has committed to providing a new package of assistance to the Palestinians in 2017 amounting to $46,688,925 mainly through international organizations including UNMAS, which is one of the Japan‘s most trusted and respected partners."

The Japanese contribution will enable UNMAS Palestine to complete its clearance tasks and to mitigate the impact of ERW during and in the aftermath of a future escalation of hostilities. UNMAS will also strengthen emergency preparedness of partner organizations, like UNDP, UNICEF, UNRWA and JICA.

M.K.