Safe and secure management of ammunition through the UN SaferGuard Programme
Photo: Erwan Morand.
In more than 100 countries, over the past five decades, poorly-managed ammunition stockpiles have resulted in explosions, often bringing about humanitarian disasters. Thousands of people have been killed, injured and displaced, and the livelihoods of entire communities have been disrupted.
In addition to the humanitarian and socio-economic consequences, unsecured or poorly managed ammunition stockpiles fuel insecurity. Massive diversion of ammunition to illicit markets has been a catalyst for armed conflict, organized crime and terrorism. Moreover, diverted ammunition is increasingly used to assemble improvised explosive devices.
Taken together, these consequences demonstrate the very serious safety and security challenges posed by inadequately-managed stockpiles.
In response to these concerns, the General Assembly requested the United Nations to develop guidelines for adequate ammunition management to ensure that the United Nations consistently delivers high-quality advice and support (A/RES/63/61).
As a result, the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) were developed in 2011 and the UN SaferGuard Programme was established as the corresponding knowledge management platform.
The UN SaferGuard Programme, managed by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs oversees the maintenance, updating and dissemination of the IATG.
Casualties of unplanned explosions at munitions sites (UEMS) 1979-2019
IATG Implementation Support Toolkit
The web-based applications in this toolkit support the implementation of the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). The scientific background of the underlying formulae is summarized and referenced in IATG 1.80.
Ammunition experts are invited to use the resources on this website to implement best-practices that will improve the safety, security and efficiency in conventional ammunition stockpile management. These tools may also be used to communicate safety and security requirements to policy-makers and other stakeholders.
Risk Management
Technical Calculators
Calculators for Demolition
International Ammunition Technical Guidelines
- 01 - Introduction and Principles of Ammunition Management
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01.10 - Guide to the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG)
English عربي Português Pусский Deutsch Français Español01.20 - Index of risk reduction process levels (RRPL) within IATG
English عربي Português Pусский Deutsch Français Español01.30 - Policy development and advice
English عربي Português Pусский Deutsch Français Español01.40 - Glossary of terms, definitions and abbreviations
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español01.50 - UN explosive hazard classification system and codes
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español01.60 - Ammunition faults and performance failures
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español01.70 - Bans and constraints
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español01.80 - Formulae for ammunition management
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español01.90 - Ammunition management personnel competences (new module)
English Português Pусский Deutsch Français Español - 02 - Risk Management
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02.10 - Introduction to risk management principles and processes
English عربي Português Pусский Deutsch Français Español02.20 - Quantity and separation distances
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español02.30 - Licensing of explosive facilities
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español02.40 - Safeguarding of explosive facilities
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español02.50 - Fire safety
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español - 03 - Ammunition Accounting
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03.10 - Inventory management
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español03.20 - Lotting and batching
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español03.30 - International transfer of ammunition
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español03.40 - End-user and end-use of internationally transferred ammunition
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español03.50 - Tracing of ammunition
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español - 04 - Explosive Facilities (Storage) (Field and Temporary Conditions)
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04.10 - Field and temporary storage
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español04.20 - Temporary storage (new module)
English Português Deutsch Pусский Français Español - 05 - Explosives Facilities (Storage) (Infrastructure and Equipment)
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05.10 - Planning and siting of explosives facilities
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español05.20 - Types of buildings for explosives facilities
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español05.30 - Traverses and barricades
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español05.40 - Safety standards for electrical installations
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español05.50 - Vehicles and mechanical handling equipment (MHE) in explosives facilities
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español05.60 - Radio frequency hazards
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español - 06 - Explosive Facilities (Storage) (Operations)
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06.10 - Control of explosives facilities
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español06.20 - Storage space requirements
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español06.30 - Storage and handling
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español06.40 - Ammunition packaging and marking
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español06.50 - Specific safety precautions (storage and operations)
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español06.60 - Works services (construction and repair)
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español06.70 - Inspection of explosives facilities
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español06.80 - Inspection of ammunition (new module)
English Português Pусский Français Español - 07 - Ammunition Processing
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07.10 - Safety and risk reduction (ammunition processing operations)
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español07.20 - Surveillance and in-service proof
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español - 08 - Transport of Ammunition
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08.10 - Transport of ammunition
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español - 09 - Security of Ammunition
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09.10 - Security principles and systems
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español - 10 - Ammunition Demilitarization and Destruction
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10.10 - Demilitarization and destruction of conventional ammunition
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español - 11 - Ammunition Accidents, Reporting and Investigation
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11.10 - Ammunition accidents: reporting and investigation
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español11.20 - Ammunition accidents: investigation methodology
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español11.30 - Ammunition storage area explosions – EOD clearance
English عربي Português Pусский Français Español - 12 - Ammunition Operational Support
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12.10 - Ammunition on multi-national operations
English عربي Português Pусский Deutsch Français Español12.20 - Small unit ammunition storage
English عربي Português Pусский Deutsch Français Español
