Bangladeshi Engineers Sweep Mines

When the new Ebola mission, UNMEER, was all set to establish a base camp at around Roberts International Airport (RIA), there was a major challenge to overcome. The area had to be cleared of any possible mines and unexploded ordnances (UXOs), possible remnants of the civil war. Ready to accomplish the task, Bangladeshi engineers (BANENGR) stepped in. Inclement weather – scorching sun and torrential rain – posed a challenge but the engineers were up to the task. Despite the hurdles, the sweeping team worked continuously for eight days to ensure the area was clear of mines and UXOs.Due to the vastness, the area was divided into three sectors. Three sweeping parties with appropriate gears and equipment underwent sweeping of the earmarked areas in phases. It was a mammoth task to clear a vast area of 38,500 sq m in just eight days. The team was able to discover various types of munitions and their parts which included anti-tank mines, rocket propelled grenades, small arms ammunitions, etc. The items were finally destroyed in coordination with UNMIL forces, US Army troops, UN Police and Liberian National Police. The Bangladeshi engineers were lauded for their professionalism and the speed with which they accomplished the task.