THE Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has safely disposed of 6,121 unexploded ordnances (UXOs) across the country in 2024.
Of this total, 3,200 UXOs were cleared in Western Province under Operation Render Safe.
Officer-in-Charge of the EOD Unit, Ansa Puaraua, revealed the figures during his presentation at the National UXO Coordination Meeting held at the Mendana Hotel in Honiara on Wednesday.
Mr Puaraua said the RSIPF EOD Unit provides a 24-hour operational capability to respond to UXO threats both on land and underwater.
“We also provide search and Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) response and advice to the Solomon Islands Government and the RSIPF on EOD-related matters,” he said.
The EOD Unit currently has 30 officers trained under the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and is equipped with specialist tools and equipment.
“We have underwater capability with 13 trained scuba divers. On average, we recover around 60 UXOs every week in Guadalcanal,” Mr Puaraua said.
He added that the unit conducts around 12 EOD operations to the provinces each year and operates from a dedicated EOD facility, which includes a demolition range.
Looking ahead, Mr Puaraua said the unit hopes to expand training opportunities for both international and provincial EOD operators and increase the duration and reach of their operations.
Meanwhile, Emily Davis, Programme Manager of The HALO Trust, said since 2023 the organisation has identified 34,916,816 square metres of hazardous land for sub-surface clearance.
“This area is about half the size of Honiara and larger than Savo Island,” Ms Davis said, adding that 70 percent of the identified hazardous areas are used for residential and agricultural purposes.
She said 3,169 items of explosive remnants of war (ERW) were reported to the police, and HALO Trust teams have visited more than 344 communities across five provinces.
The HALO Trust has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS) and the RSIPF to conduct a nationwide survey of UXO contamination and to build national capacity to address the issue.
The HALO Trust is a UK-based charity specialising in the clearance and management of explosive hazards worldwide. It works alongside The HALO Trust USA, a separate entity established to raise funds for its global activities.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
Solomon Star, Honiara
