Ahmad Mahmoud Muhammad Al-Jarrah, director and founder of the Arab Mine Advisory Team, was born in Al-Mazaar, Irbid, in 1960. He grew up in the town of Al-Mazaar in a Jordanian family of eight, being the third child of this esteemed family. His father worked as a police officer in the General Security Directorate. Al-Jarrah married at the age of twenty-four and had four daughters and two sons. He completed his primary, preparatory, and secondary education in his hometown, then joined the Jordanian Armed Forces in 1979 as a military trainee, finishing his service in 1999 after twenty years in the Royal Engineering Corps.
The time Al-Jarrah spent in the Jordanian Armed Forces was just the first stage in his journey of work and perseverance towards shaping a new phase. The experiences and skills he gained during his military service played a crucial role in refining his leadership qualities and providing him with the necessary knowledge in various fields, particularly in the area of mines and explosive remnants of war. He participated in various operations, most notably the removal of landmines from agricultural lands conducted by the Royal Engineering Corps, in addition to his involvement in other fields. The skills and experiences he gained did not fade away with the end of his first phase in the armed forces.
Al-Jarrah always aspired to work within an integrated system aimed at reducing the risks of landmines and explosive remnants of war, driven by his professional and humanitarian duty towards areas suffering from the consequences of wars and armed conflicts. To realize his dream and continue the professional journey he began in the Jordanian Armed Forces, he was appointed as the Operations Director of the National Center for Demining (NCDR) in 2005. He played a prominent and effective role in achieving a Jordan free of landmines and explosive remnants of war.
Given the rapid pace of events worldwide, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and the suffering inflicted upon communities by the massive quantities of landmines and explosive remnants, which negatively impacted the development and stability of these countries, these events played a pivotal role in guiding his efforts towards a more professional and comprehensive approach to emerging issues within the scope of Al-Jarrah's work.
These events and their aftermath ignited the spark for him to start establishing the dream he had long wished for, free from bureaucracy and obstacles that negatively affect performance and achievement, and instead adopting a more dynamic and integrative transformative model in dealing with various issues, especially humanitarian ones.
Al-Jarrah believed that dreams must be realized; thus, he set out steadily to establish a private institution specializing in landmines and explosive remnants of war and providing consultations. To assist him in achieving his dream, he began searching for trusted colleagues with the expertise and qualifications who would play an effective role in advancing the company towards development and achievement.
Finally, Al-Jarrah's dream materialized with the establishment of the Arab Mine Advisory Team (AMACC) in Jordan in 2009. It launched with a broader vision and a purely humanitarian mission aimed at achieving its objectives in meeting the aspirations of communities affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war, striving for a safe environment that enables sustainable development and peaceful living.
Al-Jarrah's dream expanded rapidly in reality, fueled by his steadfast belief in success. It extended to neighboring countries (Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Syria), providing assistance to communities affected by armed conflicts and participating in capacity building in conflict zones, equipping them with the necessary knowledge to overcome the dangers they face towards a safe environment free from landmines and explosive remnants, spreading peace and helping to achieve prosperity for these nations.
Within the vision and mission of AMACC, Al-Jarrah worked diligently to ensure that this nascent institution would provide added value that distinguishes it from others in this field. He aimed to expand its tasks alongside development, training, modernization, keeping pace with technology, exchanging experiences and knowledge, and enhancing relationships with partners, among other reasons that would realize the institution’s vision and enable it to achieve its ultimate goals, culminating in excellence and professionalism in its work.
In the summer of 2018, Al-Jarrah was diagnosed with lung cancer, and in January 2019, he passed away, content with God’s decree, carrying within him a wealth of goodwill and love for all. A Legacy of Loyalty Al-Jarrah passed away at the age of fifty-nine. Although he left this world, his humanitarian message did not die; his dream continues to be realized and expanded. His vision was inherited by companions who were inspired by his approach and style, and they pledged to uphold his message with integrity and fidelity, striving to realize his vision and uphold his hopes. May God have mercy on Abu Malik and grant him the highest paradise.
