RABIA HURAYS

Algeria- Unexploded mines in Algeria threaten the lives of dozens of people every year. It is estimated that there are more than seven million landmines throughout the territory of Western Sahara. Sahrawi women make great effort to clear the landmines laid along the Moroccan sand wall, a 2,700 km-long berm running south to north through Western Sahara and the southwestern portion of Morocco.

Aisha Abdel Wadoud became a member of the Sahrawi Mine Action Women Team (SMAWT) formed in 2019 as a group of Sahrawi female volunteers to clear landmines in the territory. “The team provides explosive ordnance risk education and raises awareness on the dangers of mines and other explosive remnants of war,” Aisha Abdel Wadoud told NuJINHA.

More than 6,000 people, including shepherds, Bedouins, children, and women have been killed or injured by landmines in the both sides of the wall, according to Sahrawi Mine Action Coordination Office (SMACO). “Sahrawi women of all ages are now the members of the team to clear landmines. Some of them are pregnant while others are mothers. Mothers leave their children with their mothers in order to clear landmines.”

Despite the very limited resources, the team continues to coordinate mine action in Western Sahara. “The members of the team are not professional but volunteers clearing landmines laid along a 5 km wide buffer zone to the east, along the 2,700 km Moroccan military wall. Unfortunately, there are no maps or specific information about the locations of mines and explosives. The members of the team face challenges in getting information about the locations because during the rainy season, floodwaters sweep these landmines toward populated areas.”

‘Women defy death’

Some of the obstacles faced by the team is the lack of transportation and resources. “Despite all the obstacles, we do our best to restore people's confidence and to enable them to live a normal life,” said Aisha Abdel Wadoud, describing women’s participation in mine clearance efforts as a challenge. “Women’s participation in mine clearance efforts is conclusive evidence showing that Sahrawi women are symbols of resilience and defiance, overcoming difficulties and breaking stereotypes. They defy death by clearing landmines.

At the end of her speech, she called on international organizations to put pressure the government to ratify the Ottawa Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). The government must raise awareness on the dangers of mines and other explosive remnants of war. Landmines pose a threat to civilians and peace and stability in the region.”