As an operational arm of the United Nations Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), UNMAS has lead responsibility for clearing mines and unexploded ordnance in emergency peacekeeping settings mandated by the Security Council. UNMAS often employs UNOPS to deliver fast procurement, recruitment and management to facilitate humanitarian aid and launch emergency mine clearance.

In post conflict settings, after DPKO assistance has concluded, support for nationally lead efforts may continue with the assistance of UNMAS or UNDP to develop the capacity of national institutions and develop related laws. In these contexts, UNMAS and UNDP frequently call on UNOPS.

Partners sometimes request the UNOPS Mine Action Team to support projects without a direct Mine Action focus – for instance ensuring that areas are free of explosives, or conducting mine clearance in preparation for infrastructure or agricultural development work.

Examples of UNOPS work can be found in the following country profiles:

	Afghanistan The widespread and indiscriminate use of mines and munitions during almost 30 years of conflict has made Afghanistan one of the most heavily contaminated countries in the world.
	Chad Mine contamination within Chad’s territorial borders is a result of more than 30 years of internal conflict and was worsened by the Libyan invasion of the Aouzou strip in the North between 1984 and 1987.
	Cyprus Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided in two parts by a buffer zone. During the conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, both parties laid defensive minefields within and outside of this zone.
	Lebanon As a result of the Israeli occupation in the early 1980s, and previous periods of conflict in southern Lebanon, vast amounts of war debris remain scattered across former conflict zones.
	Nepal The ten-year conflict, which ended in November 2006, left Nepal contaminated with mines and other explosive remnants of war.
	Occupied Palestinian Territory In early 2009 the Israeli Defense Forces 'Operation Cast Lead' in Gaza left inhabitants living and working in communities contaminated by explosive remnants of war.
	Sudan With the exception of an 11-year period of relative peace, Sudan has witnessed continuous civil war since independence in 1956. The country is widely contaminated by mines and explosive remnants of war.
	Western Sahara The territory of Western Sahara on the north-west coast of Africa has suffered from more than 35 years of conflict since Spain withdrew in the 1970s.