10 February 2014 - To prevent people from bringing unpermitted items into civilian protection sites, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) last week brought eight “sniffer” dogs into South Sudan, a senior official said in Juba today.

“We have got the dogs here to be used as security on the gates and around the camp,” said UNMAS Chief of Operations Robert Thompson. “They are here to search and indicate people who bring in weapons, explosives or contraband and they will be used for random searches as needed in and around the (protection areas).”

The dogs, which were brought from Afghanistan, were supplied by UNMAS contractors Mine Tech International and will be used in South Sudan until the end of June.

“They are well trained and well used to the duties we have to do,” said Mr. Thompson, adding that the dogs would be working alongside the UN Department of Security and Safety and UN Police as they carry out daily searches.

“I think it is a good visual deterrent if anybody is thinking of bringing anything in,” he said. “They will know we have the capability to find things that are smuggled in the camp.”

Mr. Thompson said the dogs also have flying capability and can be flown to the Unity State capital Bentiu and Upper Nile State capital Malakal when needed in those places.

A UNMISS update issued last week noted that a mission team had observed many unexploded ordinances in Mayom County, Unity State, and local authorities there had requested support from UNMAS in clearing roads.

A recently revised humanitarian response plan also revealed that mine action was targeting 1.8 million people in the most high risk areas of the country.

“As of 30 December 2013, 320 suspected or confirmed minefields were recorded by the mine action sub-cluster,” said the statement. “While these minefields were created during the Sudan civil war and do not relate to the current conflict, they prevent the safe use of land for farming and food production.”