October 21, 2014

November 7-9 Field Trip: Moxico province with the Mines Advisory Group (MAG)

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Angolan trained staff work in teams removing dangerous items from minefields

Angolan trained staff work in teams removing dangerous items from minefields

The Angola Field Group has been invited to visit Moxico province, where MAG (Mines Advisory Group), a demining organization, is headquartered. MAG has been in Angola since 1994. Moxico is the largest and most land mine contaminated province in the country. It is also home to many former refugees who continue to return and build their lives next to minefields and in close proximity to other explosive remnants of war (ERW).

Building next to minefields.

Building next to minefields

MAG has found and removed 30,000 mines and ERW since 2002, clearing and releasing over 80 million square meters of land for use in agriculture, housing, schools and clinics. With over 400 minefields still in Moxico it is expected that it will take 20-30 more years at the current rate to complete clearance.

Dates and schedule of trip:

Day 1, Friday November 7
-arrive at Luanda domestic airport at 4 for 5AM take-off with national carrier TAAG
– 0615 Arrive at Luena, the capital city of Moxico. MAG will pick up and deliver participants to hotel. Time for rest and wash up
– 1130 Presentation and view of MAG’s base
– 1230 Lunch
– 1400 Detector methodologies and ordnance identification
– 1600 Hotel
 
Day 2, Saturday November 8
-0600 Depart to field locations
-0830 Field brief
-0900/1100 minefield visit (in small groups)
– 1130/1230 mine risk education session
– 1300 visit MAG campsite, about 133km from Luena, near Lucusse, the place where UNITA rebel leader Jonas Savimbi was killed in 2002 and buried.
-1330/ 1500 return to Luena
– 1500/ 1700 rest
-1700 BBQ
 
Day 3, Sunday, November 9
-0540 Depart for airport with MAG
-0845 Arrive Luanda
(there are daily flights to Luanda so if participants want to stay longer and return on Monday this would be possible)
 
Participants will be responsible for purchasing TAAG flight tickets and transport to the Luanda airport. MAG will book the hotel rooms but each participant is responsible for paying for their room, meals, etc. MAG will pick up from and take participants back, to the airport in Luena.

If you have questions or want to sign up for this field trip, please send an email to:  angolafieldgroup@gmail.com  – if you want to sign up include your name, nationality (that appears on passport if applicable) and telephone number.

Foreigners must travel with valid passport and visa.

The hotels are about $120/ room for bed and breakfast
Flights are $330 return
BBQ and expenses $50 – $70

Risk education, teaching villagers how to protect themselves and their families

Risk education, teaching villagers how to protect themselves and their families


     Click here to download the MAG brochure in full size.

 

July 12, 2013

Thursday July 18 Presentation: Prisoner of UNITA

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Prisoners of war. Colonel Manuel Rojas Garcia, centre, Captain Ramón Aguilar, right.

Prisoners of war. Colonel Manuel Rojas Garcia, centre, Captain Ramón Aguilar, right.

It was October 28, 1987. Cuban air force Colonel Manuel Rojas Garcia was flying his MIG over Angola’s Moxico province with Captain Aguilar next to him when they were shot down by UNITA. The two Cubans were captured alive and taken to Jamba, the UNITA headquarters cleverly camouflaged inside Cuando Cubango province… The Angola Field Group invites you to hear Colonel Garcia tell his story of life as a prisoner of UNITA and his perceptions of the war, Thursday, July 18, at 8:00 PM, at the Viking Club. The book he wrote about this episode of his life was published last year, ‘Prisioneiros da UNITA nas Terras do Fim do Mundo’ and is now in its second edition. He will be selling and autographing his book.

Manuel Rojas Garcia joined the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba in 1959 and learned to fly fighter planes in China and the Soviet Union. In 1971 he graduated in Political Science from Havana University and in 1976 he got his law degree. In 1982 he mastered in Military Sciences at the Moscow Academy of Aviation. In addition to Angola, he fought in Ethiopia in 1977. Presently he serves in the reserve unit of the Cuban Armed Forces.

Everybody is welcome to attend the presentation which will be in Portuguese with simultaneous translation into English. In close cooperation with the Viking Club, this event is offered free of charge. Beverages and snacks are sold at the bar, coupons must be purchased. The Viking Bar opens at 7:30 PM. The Viking Club is on the main floor of the Edificio Maianga, Rua Marien N”Guabi, No 118 across from Panela da Barro, on the same side of the street as the Suite Hotel. For a map, click here.

 

April 5, 2013

Thursday April 11 Presentation: Surviving the Peace, Angola

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Cleaning up the remnants of war so life can get back to normal for all

Cleaning up the remnants of war so life can get back to normal for all.

On April 4th Angola celebrated 11 years of peace. April 4th is also International Day for Mine Awareness. Long after the war is over, some weapons wait underground for years, a lurking threat. As one of the world’s most heavily land-mined countries, Angola still has over a decade of de-mining ahead of it. The Angola Field Group invites you to “Surviving the Peace, Angola”, a short film about an Angolan girl who played with a landmine; the film gives a close-up look at de-mining in Moxico province, at the Viking Club, Thursday April 11, at 8:00 PM.

Wearing a helmet and visor and heavy vest and working one knee on the ground, makes de-mining especially challenging in hot climates like Angola.

Wearing a helmet and visor and heavy vest and working one knee on the ground, makes de-mining especially challenging in hot climates like Angola.

Our presenter, Tony Fernandes, is Technical Operations Manager/ Senior Manager in Country for MAG Angola, the NGO de-mining in Moxico province which is one of two most contaminated provinces in the country. Previously he managed de-mining work in Iran, DRC, South Sudan and Vietnam. Besides humanitarian mine action, Tony has extensive experience working in anti-terrorism and as a bomb squad operator and explosives inspector.

The presentation will also include a short informative talk on de-mining in Angola in addition to the film, and an opportunity to ask questions of our presenter, Tony Fernandes. Also MAG T-shirts will be on sale.

A lethal threat in his own backyard. A resident shows MAG de-mining team a landmine

A lethal threat in his own backyard. A resident shows MAG de-mining team a landmine.

In close cooperation with the Viking Club, this event is offered free of charge. Beverages and snacks are sold at the bar, coupons must be purchased. The Viking Bar opens at 7:30 PM. The Viking Club is on the main floor of the Edificio Maianga, Rua Marien N”Guabi, No 118 across from Panela da Barro, on the same side of the street as the Suite Hotel. For a map, click here. For sale on Thursday, hand woven baskets from Moxico and various Angolan books. Also, giant used book sale of various English titles, fiction and non-fiction, a great selection!

Moxico resident stares at yellow stick marking a landmine, a treacherous war souvenir in front of his house

Moxico resident stares at yellow stick marking a landmine, a treacherous war souvenir in front of his house.

MAG, Mines Advisory Group, is a British-based Non Governmental Organization based in Manchester, UK, founded in 1989 and has had de-mining operations in over 35 countries.

An important component of mine action is teaching mine awareness

An important component of mine action is teaching mine awareness.

MAG team  de-mining next to veranda of a local school in Moxico

MAG team  de-mining next to veranda of a local school in Moxico. All photos courtesy MAG.