Smaller quantities are mined in italy, mongolia, the united states, and canada. Mine clearance teams in afghanistan report finding literally dozens of types of landmines, mainly from the exussr, but also from belgium, italy, us and the uk. Even mines decades old are as dangerous as when they. The aid group, halo trust, estimates there are up to 640,000 landmines laid in afghanistan since 1979. The soviets have deployed at least half a dozen types of land. Land mines are catastrophic for children, whose small bodies are particularly vulnerable to the injuries they inflict. London reuters demining teams face a nightmare task returning to work in afghanistan with front lines fluid, more land mines likely to have been laid and rogue groups roaming the country, experts said tuesday. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first widescale united nations mine clearance operations in afghanistan, is the founder and former director of the international demining ngo mines advisory group, and has worked in many of the worst mineaffected countries in the world. The use of mines in afghanistan and surrounding countries has increased in the past year, with the united front formerly the northern alliance continuing to use mines inside afghanistan, and the forces of russia in tajikistan, uzbekistan, and kyrgyzstan laying mines on borders. Blast mines a chinese metalcased type 59 antitank blast mine. Landmines and land rights in afghanistan 2 the geneva international centre for humanitarian demining gichd strives for a world free of antipersonnel mines and from the threat of other landmines and explosive remnants of war, and where the suffering and concerns of. The demining expert says that by the time peace finally came to afghanistan with the u. State department estimates landmine unexploded ordnancerelated casualties at over 2,400 during the year 2000 and that nearly 948 square kilometers of land had been landmine uxocontaminated.
Time for action, not ed, document 0574002 published 3. Death and injury from landmines and unexploded ordnance in. Today, mine clearance teams in afghanistan still find literally dozens of types of landmines, mainly from former soviet union but also from belgium, italy, the united states and britain. Landmines are now a daily treat in afghanistan, they recognize no ceasefire and long after the fighting has stopped landmines continue to maim and kill. Facts about landmines paul jefferson, one of the earliest humanitarian deminers said a landmine is the perfect soldier. Rae mcgrath is a nobel peace prize colaureate as a cofounder of the international campaign to ban landmines.
In libya 27% of the total arable land is unusable due to mines. In afghanistan, mines are quite literally everywhere. Halo built a tent in the courtyard of our school where we had our classes until. Along with other explosive remnants of war or erws, they are responsible for the serious injury or death of more than 30 afghan civilians. This appendix provides descriptions of currently available antipersonnel landmines apl and some antitank at mines that are part of mixed systems see table c1. Estimates of the number of angolan landmines range between 10 and 20 million, which equates to at least 1 to 2 land mines for every person in the country.
Landmines are now a daily threat in afghanistan, angola, bosnia, cambodia, chechnya, croatia, iraq, mozambique, nicaragua, somalia, and dozens of other countries. It also houses a variety of other military hardware from wars fought in the country in recent decades. In afghanistan and cambodia it was estimated that a third of the land was unusable due to buried mines. An assortment of land mines and bomb parts that were removed from the ground in afghanistan. If current presidential policy continues, all of the pure apl described here, with the exception of the claymore, will be unavailable to the u. There are an estimated 100,000 landmines in afghanistan. Treaty in detail frequently asked questions sometimes referred to as the ottawa convention, the mine ban treaty is officially titled. Important amounts are also produced from mines west of lake baikal in russia, and in the andes mountains in chile. Injuries associated with landmines and unexploded ordnance. Afghanistan, angola, cambodia, iraq, and laos were believed to be the nations worst affected by land mines.
Soviets leave dangerous legacy behind in afghanistan. Land mines had killed 25,000 afghans during the war and another 1015 million land mines, most planted by soviet and government forces, were left scattered throughout the countryside. Injuries associated with landmines and unexploded ordnance afghanistan, 19972002 landmines and unexploded ordnance uxo pose a substantial public health risk 1,2. According to the international campaign to ban landmines icbl 1. There are hundreds of different types of ap mine7, though probably only about. Thousands of people have been killed or injured by landmines in afghanistan. Pakistan still has 6 million landmines, india third with 4. Although most recorded battlefields have been cleared, afghanistan remains one. After nine years of war with the soviets, the afghans have to deal with a new battle. Approximately 6070 million landmines are scattered in approximately 70 countries 3, and an estimated 24,000 persons, mostly civilians, are killed or injured annually by landmines and uxo 4. While afghanistan is not comparable in its stockpile, the report adds that it is one of the most heavily mined countries. In afghanistan, landmines claim between 20 and 25 victims a day. The inherent difficulty of mine clearance is compounded by the great variety of mines in usemore than 700 types are known.
Fields peppered with deadly mines in north korea, afghanistan, india, vietnam, iraq, and many other places are responsible for thousands of deaths every year. One hundred million landmines are found in 64 countries, most of them in developing world with an estimated 10,000,000 landmines in afghanistan. Mine clearance teams in afghanistan report finding literally dozens of types of landmines, mainly from the ex ussr, but also from belgium, italy, us and the uk. The proliferation and use of mines is completely the blame and fault of the military and their decision makers. Landmine uxo contamination in afghanistan has resulted from all of the different phases of conflict. One of the mosts heavily mined countries in the world is afghanistan. Landmines are now a daily threat in afghanistan, angola, bosnia, cambodia. The bulk of afghanistans problem with landmines and unexploded ordnance.
This is a digitized version of an article from the timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Al jazeeras jennifer glasse reports from southern afghanistan. The international committee of the red cross estimated in 1994 that it would take 4,300 years to remove all the soviet land mines in afghanistan. Landmines affect mainly civilians and long after conflicts are over. India stands third on the list with 45 million antipersonnel landmines. While the international community, spearheaded by the u. After 50 years of war, cleaning up landmines key to peace.
These landmines are not just from the taliban and alqaeda fighting us and coalition forces. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. Without landmines agricultural production could more than double in both afghanistan and cambodia. War, fighting and military actions are horrible, gross and destructive events, which have little or no consideration for the safety of civilians, their property and animals alike. Government of the islamic republic of afghanistan the convention. The omar mine museum in kabul displays 51 of the 53 types of landmines used in afghanistan.
At least fifty different types of mines have been identified in afghanistan of belgian, chinese, exczechoslovakian, iranian, italian, pakistani. The role and control of weapons in the 1990s ebook ed. The former ministry of mines and industries was responsible for extractive and associated heavy industries, mining and construction minerals, hydrocar. Mines in northeast afghanistan continue to be a major source of lapis lazuli. The simplicity and costeffectiveness of mines are major factors in explaining the widespread use of mines throughout the numerous countries that are now faced with dealing. Its design is typical of many post world war ii antitank blast mines, circular with a central fuze well fitted with a plug in this case. Landmines in afghan istan afghanistan is among the countries most severely affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance uxo.
Although most recorded battlefields have been cleared, afghanistan remains one of the worlds most mined countries. In this highly actionable guide, he shares the food, mindset, exercise, and sleep strategies that have had the biggest positive impact on his diabetes and hopefully yours too. The afghanistan landmine impact survey alis, conducted between 2003 and 2004, identified 2,571. Many are left over from the soviet occupation of the country from 1979 to 1989. Detail 4 estimated 50% of afghan villages were destroyed, and an estimated 25% of paved roads destroyed deminers have found the valmara 69 mine, made in italy in afghanistan 10 facts about landmines in afghanistan types of mines scatter bombs directional fragmentation mines. In the 1980s, the use of antipersonnel landmines was regulated under the ccw treaty. During the soviet occupation in 1979, landmines were deployed to depopulate provinces of afghanistan, disrupt the agriculture, interrupt transportation, damage economic infrastructure, and to kill innocent civilians. The government says 31 of 32 geographic departments have some type. The ensuing mine ban convention has been joined by. Pictures and descriptions are from the report landmines. Iraq is severely affected by mines and unexploded ordnance uxo as a result of the 1991 gulf war, the 19801988 iraqiran war, two decades of. Humanitarian mine action actors in afghanistan have cleared more than 18 million items of erw, some 737,000 antipersonnel ap mines, including 760 voieds.
Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. During 2000 and 2001, afghanistan had the most reported landmine and unexploded ordnance casualties in the world. Understanding landmines and mine action september 2003 prepared by robert keeley page 1 understanding landmines and mine action introduction according to the international campaign to ban landmines icbl 1. A land mine is an explosive device concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy. The most infamous mine used during the soviet unions occupation period was the socalled butterfly mine. At least fifty different types of mines have been identified in afghanistan of belgian, chinese, exczechoslovakian, iranian, italian, pakistani, singaporean, exussr, united kingdom, ex. To meet these objectives the government, with the help of the world bank and other donor agencies, has started the reconstruction and reform of the ministry of mines. Why princess dianas fight against landmines was so remarkable as prince harry visits angola, were taking a look back at his mothers legacy. Adam browns acclaimed diatribe column, adams corner, has brought lifetransforming diabetes tips to over 1 million people since 20. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, the times does.
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