Website Glossary

Military munitions that have been deployed but failed to explode as intended. UXO can include bombs, grenades, artillery shells, and other explosive devices.

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a specialised unit within the UN Department of Peace Operations responsible for coordinating and implementing the UN’s mine action strategy to mitigate the humanitarian and development consequences of landmines and other explosive hazards. Its activities include survey, clearance, risk education, victim assistance, stockpile destruction, and advocacy for the universalisation of relevant international treaties. Through its comprehensive approach, UNMAS strives to create safer environments, enabling sustainable development and the return of displaced populations to their communities.

UXO Clearance is the systematic process of locating, identifying, and rendering safe or removing Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) from a defined area. This process mitigates the risks posed by UXO to personnel, infrastructure, and the environment and typically involves a combination of survey, detection, excavation, and disposal techniques.

A UXO survey is a critical step in managing unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk. It involves systematically applying geophysical and geospatial techniques to accurately identify, locate, and map potential UXO contamination within a defined area. This process may include desktop studies, historical research, non-intrusive surveys (using magnetometers, EM, and GPR), and intrusive investigations. Operators analyze the resulting data to create detailed maps and risk assessments, which they then use to develop appropriate mitigation strategies. These strategies include clearance, avoidance, or other risk management measures.