The United Nations Mine Action Service or UNMAS received 37 new explosive detection dogs for South Sudan on Friday.
Upon arrival, the dogs were transferred to temporary doghouses in Gumbo, Juba, where they will get used to the climate and joined up with their future handlers.
In a note CRN got, UNMAS says the dogs are valuable team members who work hard to protect vulnerable populations in South Sudan.
They support UN Police to search protection of civilians’ sites, cargo and entry points to detect hazardous items for the internally displaced persons to remain safe, it adds.
Some of the dogs will remain in Juba, to work at the UN bases and airport; many will be transferred to Bentiu, Bor and Malakal, the Action Service says explains.
UNMAS says now it has six explosive detection dogs’ teams which focus on entry point control and cargo searches in Juba.
The dogs are safe and friendly animals, screened for diseases and vaccinated, it assures.
The welfare of the dogs is important to UNMAS as the safety of the communities where they will work.