MAG requested MapAction's help to upgrade its GIS capacity across all of its national mine action programmes. Jonny Douch and Liesbeth Renders of MapAction have undertaken the first mini-project, which involves in-situ training of several MAG personnel in Angola while gaining an understanding of the geospatial needs of mine action programmes at field level.

Liesbeth Renders commented: "We're here to work with MAG staff in improving their map making. This will help them map the areas they're currently working in and will make it easier to establish which areas should be priorities in the future, by allowing the combination of data from technical mine surveys with data from the affected community. This should make it possible to reduce the areas currently identified as mined so de-mining will be accurately targeted in the future."

Following the 27-year civil war in Angola, landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) remain as the 'hidden enemy', causing a continuous stream of civilian casualties. It is widely acknowledged that there are probably two landmines for every person in Angola.

MAG has been active in Angola since 1994. Its current operations are centred in Luena in Moxico province. It has approximately 180 Angolan and 7 international staff. As a direct result of MAG's mine clearance and verification work in Moxico, it is now possible to travel safely for the first time in decades on more than 250 kilometers of primary road that connects communities in the interior of the province, so facilitating socio-economic development of the whole region.