Background: The Landmine Problem

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Ira Hines
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Background: The Landmine Problem Years of war have left millions of recovering from conflict, with the world have focused attention on scattered and unrecorded landmines weakened social and political

Originally from this scourge and are in turn ill- intended to impede troop movements and halt the engines prepared to address the problem.

1 Background: The Landmine Problem Years of war have left millions of recovering from conflict, with the world have focused attention on scattered and unrecorded landmines weakened social and political areas where these mines had been and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in structures, endure the most impact emplaced. scores of countries. Originally from this scourge and are in turn ill- intended to impede troop movements and halt the engines prepared to address the problem. The high levels of contamination Landmines in Post-Cold War Regional Conflicts Regional wars in Africa, of war in times of conflict, these and the far-reaching socio-economic Asia, Europe and South America landmines and UXO remain after impact of UXO contamination and during the 1980s and 90s saw the the fighting is finished, continuing to landmine accidents demand an inte- deployment of millions of con- claim civilian victims for years to grated and sustained commitment by ventional landmines, but often with- come. The current nature of war the entire international community. 1 out the employment restrictions and and terrorism places this threat recording discipline that had guided squarely on the doorstep of the The Changing Nature of the most conventional use of landmines A deminer marks the boundary of minefield with a standard mine warning sign. civilian population. Civilian men, women and especially children, who often mistake mines Threat Clearing landmines and UXO after both World Wars was a monumental undertaking, especially since WWII. Although most of these mines were made by mainstream arms manufacturers, making and UXO for toys, by countries that were devastated landmine detection and make up the bulk of all socially, economically and politically. identification possible, they were mine accidents in However, the WWI Armistice often employed using random, peacetime. Agreement of 1918 required the unknown or unreliable methods. In addition to the Germans to report their minefield Many of today s landmine victims are thousands of deaths plans and the location of delayed being killed or injured as a result of and injuries, landmines action charges. During WWI and accidents involving landmines from and UXO have denied WWII, the combatants laid mines in these recent regional conflicts. farmers the use of vast uniform patterns and generally The majority of wars fought in areas of valuable land, adhered to marking and recording the later half of the twentieth overloaded the health norms. The reports they generated century have involved non-state care system because of are still being used to clear mined actors outside the control of the horrific injuries areas in Europe and North Africa. governments recognized by the they cause, and blocked During the Cold War era and United Nations. The experience vital infrastructure into the late twentieth century, of many non-governmental improvements, foreign nations continued to use landmines, organizations (NGOs) is that non- investment and generally as barriers or for state actors (NSAs) often use development in many deterrence. While these mined areas improvised landmines, which are countries that were static in nature, the end of the usually more dangerous and volatile desperately need them. Cold War and the resulting re- than commercial landmines. Sadly, countries designation of borders throughout Landmines have been and continue 4 The Landmine Action Smart Book

have a tendency to be highly Landmines as Offensive Weapons The ideology, objectives and unpredictable and unsafe to handle.

2 to be produced and used not only that have to serve as starting points by terrorists and drug cartels but for clearance operations. also by such seemingly benign The improvised landmines used groups as local communities by these groups are more dangerous protecting their livelihoods and than commercial mines because they homes. have a tendency to be highly Landmines as Offensive Weapons The ideology, objectives and unpredictable and unsafe to handle. The relative damage caused by these mines to the combatants strategies of these groups vary themselves and to official or unofficial greatly. Terrorist groups commit deminers has the possibility of violent acts that seemingly have no being greater than that of the regular purpose other than to inflict terror mines to which states have access. among the civilian population. The acts of violence are not directed at military troops or other military What is Meant by Mine Action A Comprehensive Approach Mine action targets. They are not for defense. aims to reduce the social, economic The purpose of the acts of violence and environmental impact of mines is to disrupt the social fabric by and UXO. Mine action is not just creating a high level of fear among the civilian population. States usually try to defend a about demining, removing the mines and destroying UXO. It is also about people and societies, and how they mapping, marking and clearance, 3. Survivor assistance, including rehabilitation and reintegration, Once uncovered by a deminer, a flag marks the mine s location so it can be destroyed with explosives. position, deny an area or disrupt an are affected by landmine 4. Stockpile destruction, and opposing force. Malicious and other contamination. The objective of mine Many groups also consider irregular military forces use action is to reduce the risk from diplomacy against the indiscriminate landmines to disrupt the social, eco- landmines to a level where people use of AP mines to be a part of mine nomic and political infrastructure, can live safely; to live in a way in action. and terrorize the local population. which economic, social and health Mine action is a holistic approach Because they are more likely to development can occur free from the to the landmine and UXO problem; position landmines in places around threats posed by landmines and in it refers to a diverse set of actions schools, trodden paths, wells, etc. which the victims needs can be that aim collectively to minimize the Because of indiscriminate placement, addressed. negative social, economic and there are rarely well-kept mine Mine action has four environmental impact that landmines records or minefield maps. Land- components: have on people and their mines also may not be laid in a con- 1. Mine risk education, communities. By addressing the full ventional pattern. It is a combatant s 2. Humanitarian demining, i.e., spectrum of mine action activities, memory and a community s victims landmine and UXO survey, the goal is to develop a The Landmine Action Smart Book 5

Background: The Landmine Problem comprehensive and systematic way population of around 10,000 childhood killer (but preventable) of dealing with mine and UXO villagers due to alleged mine diseases.

3 Background: The Landmine Problem comprehensive and systematic way population of around 10,000 childhood killer (but preventable) of dealing with mine and UXO villagers due to alleged mine diseases. problems in a societal context, while infestation. After three months of Increased amputation and injury still meeting the needs of individually work, the deminers found four requiring blood infusion results affected people. 2 To restore people s mines. Four mines had denied the in the lack of blood supplies and land and livelihoods, mine action people access to their homes and contributes to the rise of practitioners must design a scenario- land and caused the dislocation of contaminated blood. specific strategy that makes use of 10,000 people. 3 Mined roads prevent food selected capabilities across the mine Health Problems Multiplied Since the transport, contributing to action spectrum. landmine threat is generally greatest increased iodine deficiency in countries in need, the following disorders. 4 Consequences of Use of Landmines Unusable Land Consider are typical health problems either caused or heightened by the threat These scenarios are occurring daily, severely affecting the quality the effect that only a few mines can of landmines: of life for men, women and children have on a village: In 1996, Mined agricultural land, water around the world. Norwegian Peoples Aid cleared a and canals decrease farming Indirect Health Consequences While Civilians plant rice on the edge of disaster: a minefield adjacent to farm fields. village in Mozambique after it had been abandoned by the entire activities causing food scarcity and promoting malnutrition- the most visible victims of landmines are the amputees, their families and related diseases. others also typically suffer greatly. Mines, which limit Landmines do not just kill and injure access to drinking an individual. Death or the disability water and firewood, of a parent should not be measured cause people to drink only by the economic toll it takes on from con-taminated the family, but also in the emotional water sources and scars of the widow or widower and increase waterborne children. Caring for the injured, diseases such as poverty-stricken and depressed bacterial diarrhea, survivor can put enormous stress amoebiasis and on a family. Even worse, families must giardiasis. cope with the tragic and untimely Mined public places death of a beloved member who was and road-ways can lead also the breadwinner. These factors to avoidance of the must be accounted for when devel- area by mobile health oping support programs for survivors and vaccination teams and victims. They also create long- and can result in an term costs for communities, the increase in all six immediate problem being medical 6 The Landmine Action Smart Book

costs. People who have survived the requisite to the effective imple- blast of a landmine have to be trans- mentation of mine action programs ported to a hospital. Once there, in the field.

4 costs. People who have survived the requisite to the effective imple- blast of a landmine have to be trans- mentation of mine action programs ported to a hospital. Once there, in the field. The establishment of a blood transfusions, surgical time and Mine Action Center (MAC) or skill, medication, artificial limbs, and national landmine office is therefore rehabilitation may all be necessary. a central component of most mine How can an impoverished family, action programs. Support for the community or country support such establishment and development of an extensive and ongoing medical these planning and coordination dilemma? hubs has been at the core of mine Developmental Consequences II In action since the first center was order to develop an area established for Afghanistan in successfully, people need access to roads, water, markets, schools and MACs are normally initiated and developed under the authority of operators in particular, NGOs humanitarian agencies and the A red flag marks a mine pit in the Jordanian desert. facilities. If landmines are present or local and national governments. local communities themselves. are suspected, no economic The United Nations typically Typical major mine action center development can occur. provides them with assistance by activities include: The immediate effects of land coordinating international support. Managing and coordinating rendered unusable are exacerbated This assistance is provided through outreach and operation activities by hidden costs associated with the United Nations Mine Action Conducting geographical surveys diverted medical resources, imped- Service (UNMAS) for programs Conducting socio-medical iments to the return of refugees, developed in the context of peace- surveys destruction of livestock, the dis- keeping operations or in response Prioritizing activities in ruption of economic patterns and to immediate humanitarian needs conjunction with host nation inhibited tourism. Because landmines and the United Nations planning hinder travel, the presence of Development Program (UNDP) for Mine removal or destruction landmines inhibits the mobility of long-term capacity-building Survivor assistance teachers, technicians, and employers, programs. Many donor countries Mine risk education restricts the availability of goods and and NGOs support and fund Maintaining landmine-related services particularly food and national or regional offices as part information impedes the restoration of normal of their bilateral efforts to improve MACs are usually responsible for community services. 5 mine action in a country at risk. managing the mine action campaign To be successful, MACs rely on through various phases, listed below Mine Action Programs Mine Action Centers Given the range of activities two primary supports: the commitment of the national government to (notionally): Validating and assessing the and the number of players involved mine action and the strength of the need and national will in mine action, coordination is a pre- partnerships they build with donors, Planning The Landmine Action Smart Book 7

Background: The Landmine Problem A Diverse Cast of Players The organizations to coordinate national number and diversity of mine action efforts.

5 Background: The Landmine Problem A Diverse Cast of Players The organizations to coordinate national number and diversity of mine action efforts. organizations involved in mine While there exist perennial action includes donor countries, problems in coordinating the actions NGOs, international organizations, of so many diverse organizations, military units, commercial firms, and the major difficulty remains finding host nation agencies. Unfortunately, adequate funding and resources to they do not always coordinate and start and finish the job. communicate. Funding A key problem for many Militaries, with their special mine action organizations is a lack training in countermine operations, of long-term funding commitments often play key roles by developing from donors. It often takes months training programs and offering and sometimes years for a successful valuable advisory assistance. Critical mine action campaign to be NGOs such as Mines Advisory completed. Donors understandably Group, HALO Trust and Norwegian want to see results, but indicators of Peoples Aid have played a critical success are difficult to measure. role. Early attempts to measure The creation of the United effectiveness by ordnance destroyed Nations Mine Action Service or even acres cleared have proven (UNMAS) and the Swiss to be inadequate. Many donors have government-sponsored Geneva been reluctant to obligate funds for International Centre for extended operations. Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), Without adequate funding and offers international support and appropriate action, the effects that coordination, and focuses on such landmines have on civilians and their issues as mine action standards and communities will continue to take mine action information their toll. Nevertheless, many management. humanitarian organizations and Some countries (such as the agencies continue to work tirelessly White tape and danger signs written in Portuguese and English warning of landmines cover the entrance to a building in Kuito, Angola. Training Deploying of personnel and equipment Conducting operations United States) rely heavily on bilateral nation-to-nation support, others combine their energies with those of a region, such as the to improve the quality of life in communities threatened by landmines. Great strides have been made and many successful operations have Evaluating the program European Commission, and some rendered hundreds of communities Sustaining the program 6 rely on international or regional and countries mine-safe. 8 The Landmine Action Smart Book

The Components of Mine Action Operations While developing a comprehensive and integrated approach to mine action is the key to a successful program, it cannot

The following sections summarize the critical factors of surveying, mine detection and clearance, survivor assistance, mine risk education, and research and

6 The Components of Mine Action Operations While developing a comprehensive and integrated approach to mine action is the key to a successful program, it cannot be achieved if each of the core components of a program are not themselves meticulously and skillfully designed. The following sections summarize the critical factors of surveying, mine detection and clearance, survivor assistance, mine risk education, and research and development programs. (Above) Two deminers prepare to clear a minefield. (Left) Cambodian deminers conduct a pre-operation check of their equipment before heading into a minefield. The Landmine Action Smart Book 9

2017 Annual Report on the implementation of the Mine Action Strategy of the Swiss Confederation

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) 2017 Annual Report on the implementation of the Mine Action Strategy of the Swiss Confederation