Angola

UNDP/Crisis Prevention and Recovery continues to support the National Institute of Demining – INAD

Past week activities include:

• A training course in reporting and statistics was initiated in Malanje for staff of several INAD brigades;

• The second training course in survey and quality assurance was completed in Huambo for 19 INAD staff from Cunene, Cuando Cubango, Benguela, Huila & Huambo brigades;

• Ongoing support for the construction & equipping of a mechanical workshop for the INAD Brigade in Ondjiva, Kunene province;

• Ongoing support to the INAD Huila brigade to establish an Operations room in Lubango

• Ongoing support to the INAD Cuando Cubango brigade to develop a survey plan;

• Ongoing technical & mechanical support to the INAD Huila brigade and the clearance tasks at Caconda airport and a former military camp in Caluquembe where the local administration plans to establish a market;

• Identification of highly specialized and internationally accredited Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD) training course at overseas venue for 16 INAD staff ongoing;

• Translation from English to Portuguese of a new set of standard operating procedures (SOP’s) for INAD was completed and is expected to be formally presented to INAD in the coming week. The SOP’s consist of twelve comprehensive chapters and cover all areas of demining, including procedures, safety, management, operations and standards. The former SOP’s were considerably out of date, therefore updated SOP’s will bring INAD up to contemporary international standards;

• UNDP/CPR has been putting considerable technical & mechanical support into INAD clearance task at the Santa Clara border over the past months. Particular emphasis has been placed on the introduction of the Land Release concept with mechanical assets. Unfortunately, this task has been temporarily suspended due to the heavy rains and subsequent flooding throughout Cunene province.