Port Sudan, 15 September 2025 – The European Union, through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO), has contributed €4 million to fund emergency mine action activities in Sudan, implemented by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and its partners in Sudan. This critical support will protect hundreds of thousands of civilians from explosive hazards while enabling safe humanitarian access.
After two years of conflict, millions of Sudanese people are facing grave risks from widespread explosive ordnance (EO). Roads, homes, markets, schools, and clinics across urban centers nationwide—including Khartoum and Omdurman have become littered with deadly explosive remnants of war. For civilians returning home or displaced into new areas, the danger is immediate and life-threatening.
With EU funding, UNMAS will:
- Deliver explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) to civilians—particularly displaced families, returnees, and children—helping them recognize and avoid life-threatening hazards.
- Conduct survey and clearance operations to make contaminated neighborhoods and vital infrastructure safe for communities.
- Provide technical support to aid organizations so they can safely reach and assist vulnerable communities.
"Explosive hazards are a silent killer and a serious protection concern, blocking families from returning home, preventing children from going to school, and threatening the lives of farmers while cultivating their land," said Mohammad Sediq Rashid, Chief of UNMAS Sudan. “This EU support helps us give civilians the chance to live, move, and rebuild safely.”
“Sudanese civilians are paying the highest price for this devastating conflict, and explosive ordnance adds yet another layer of danger to their daily lives,” said Elke Leidel, Head of Office, Sudan, ECHO. “By supporting mine action through UNMAS, the EU reaffirms its commitment to protecting civilians and enabling safe humanitarian access across Sudan.”
The one-year project will directly benefit more than 675,000 people, including over 100,000 children, with a strong focus on enabling safe returns with dignity. By enabling UNMAS to scale up its response, the EU is helping restore dignity and safety to communities across Sudan while ensuring that humanitarian assistance can reach those most in need.