April the 4th marks the UN International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. While the current pandemic is severely impacting all our lives, millions of citizens around the world are still faced with the daily and deadly threat of unexploded landmines and IEDs in their communities.
Thailand: Senior Field Technician Tobias spent a month in Thailand in February conducting major repairs and maintenance on the MW240v1.1 system and several upgrades and maintenance on the MW330 system for our clients. Both machines are clearing landmines on the border with Cambodia.
Colombia: The hard work of Paulo and the HI team in Colombia paid off! HI operators and the GCS-100 were successfully accredited at the beginning of March.
Germany: GCS team members Hagen, Liz and Toby stand next to the MW240, ready for the second overhaul for the German Army of the MineWolf machine and the flail attachment. At GCS, we understand the importance of keeping mechanical assets operational at all times!
Iraq: GCS is conducting high-risk IED clearance operations in Iraq. The project has a strong focus on capacity building of national teams, gender equality and the creation of jobs for young people in Iraq.
GCS commemorates the 4th April UN International Day for Mine Awareness with the aim of raising awareness of the ongoing threat posed by landmines and other explosive devices. Yet, this year’s observations are taking place amidst the unprecedented and challenging circumstances around COVID-19. Making communities safer is at the heart of everything we do at GCS, so we will continue to adhere to government regulations and the advice of health authorities to halt the spread of the virus. Our absolute priority is the wellbeing of our staff, partners and colleagues and their families.
At the same time, our life saving work must, and does continue. The very severe threat of unexploded landmines and IEDs is still a daily reality for millions around the world, killing and maiming tens of thousands every year and wreaking untold damage on communities. In line with our commitment to eliminating the world of this threat, GCS continues to carry out critical operations, production and planning - wherever possible and appropriate.
With the implementation of the necessary disinfectant protocols and social distancing measures, our experienced engineers and technicians at our production site in Stockach, Germany continue to work hard to increase the safety and efficiency of mechanical clearance operations worldwide. Currently they are working on several new product developments and service and maintenance contracts. For instance, our second mechanical assets overhaul of the MW240 machine for the German Army is well underway, following the successful completion of the first overhaul at the end of last year. In Iraq, our teams successfully underwent more advanced training throughout March and are fully motivated to get on with the critical task of mitigating explosive ordnance threats to save lives in their communities. Once the situation returns to normal, the Iraqi teams will undergo operational accreditation.
Prior to the implementation of social distancing measures, our teams got together in their respective locations to join the 2020 #togetheragainstmines campaign: https://www.togetheragainstmines.org/
Our team in Stockach, Germany, pictured last month: At GCS, we believe that no more lives should be lost due to the absence of quality mine clearance equipment, so we put our heart and soul into the construction of every machine.
We sincerely thank our teams for embracing such a powerful sense of team spirit and determination through these times, despite having to keep physical distance, and we hope that operations return to normal soon. In the words of United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, “we are in this together – and we will get through this, together.”