Demining in the Middle East

Issue A land mine is an explosive device, concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets as they pass over or near the device. In Middle Eastern countries landmines affect food security, and inflict death and injuries on innocent civilians. This increases the burden on an already poor health systems.

Dealing with landmines Massoud Hassani, an Afghan refugee that’s currently living in Europe came up with the “Mine Kafon.” The Mine Kafon is shaped like a ball and runs off of solar energy. The picture above shows what the Mine Kafon is to look like in the future. In 1997, 122 nations signed at the Ottawa Convention, a landmark agreement that banned the production, sale and use of land mines. The number of victims killed or maimed annually has fallen from 26,000 In 1996 to les than half that today. Afghanistan is the second highest country with land mines located in the country. In 2002 the country signed the Ottawa agreement and has seen cases more than halved from 2000 in 2001 to 796 in 2006.

UN Involvement In 2011 the United Nations boosted mine clearence in South Sudan after a deadly blast killed at least 20 people. Four children, four women, ten male civilians and two soldiers were killed in a mine which blew up a civilian bus. Fourteen United Nations departments, programs, agencies and funds are directly involved in mine action. They share a vision for a world free of the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conductive to development and where the needs of victims are met.

Future Outlook The U.S. Government’s Humanitarian Demining Program seeks to relieve human suffering while promoting U.S. interests. The Program’s objectives are to reduce civilian casualties, create conditions for the return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes, reinforce an affected country’s stability, and encourage international cooperation and participation. The Program seeks to accomplish these objectives by helping to establish and support sustainable indigenous mine action capabilities in mine-affected nations. Since FY 1993, the United States has committed almost $500 million to global mine action initiatives, including research and development.