A photo exhibit showcasing projects aimed at assisting victims of mines and UXOs (unexploded ordnances) in Southern Sudan opened its doors on 12 March in Juba.

An initiative of the UN Mine Action Office (UNMAO), the exhibit is the first of its kind in Juba, displaying 60 photographs of landmine victims and socio-economic reintegration projects throughout Southern Sudan.

Opening the event, Natan Wojia Pitia, Director General of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Chairperson of the Victim Assistance Working Group, said the exhibit was vital in helping non-governmental organizations (NGOs), UN agencies and other governmental bodies understand the lives of war victims and other disabled people in Southern Sudan.

Difficulties facing disabled persons in the region were complicated by deep-rooted socio-economic problems caused by the civil war, Mr. Pitia said. Current estimates indicated that about 2,670 disabled persons in Southern Sudan needed urgent assistance to become mobile and self-sufficient.

He pointed out that many disabled people in the region were not necessarily victims of landmines. “During the war, no one was taken for immunization. This has resulted in a lot of disabilities due to diseases like polio,” he said.

UNMAO Victim Assistant (VA) Specialist Davide Naggi said victims of war and mines/ERW (explosive remnants of war) faced daunting challenges in addition to physical or psychological injuries. They were often deprived of their dignity and livelihoods, forced to devote time and energy to restoring their identities, their homes, and their place in the community, and must work to rebuild their self-confidence and sense of security.

Presenting statistics on UNMAO’s work, Mr. Naggi said it had opened over 8,000 kilometres of road in the south through mine survey and clearance. The road work had assisted with freedom of movement, the safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), distribution of emergency relief, and UNMIS monitoring of the CPA.

Mr. Naggi added that the number of persons receiving UNMAO-coordinated Mine Risk Education had risen dramatically over the past few years, from a mere 18,490 in 2005 to 406,255 in 2007.

He further noted that the UNMAO’s VA pillar focused on concrete activities and strategies to improve quality of life for mine/ERW victims and others with disabilities. UNMAO was currently supporting six VA projects in the south, which were funded by the Government of Japan through the Human Security Trust Fund and being implemented in coordination with UNICEF and the UN Development Programme.