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Key developments since May 2000: Jordan has destroyed an additional 16,000 stockpiled antipersonnel mines, for a total of 36,552 destroyed. A National Demining and Rehabilitation Committee has been formed. Mine awareness activities continue to expand. Jordan acceded to CCW Amended Protocol II on 6 September 2000.
Jordan signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 11 August 1998, ratified on 13 November 1998 and the treaty entered into force on 1 May 1999. Jordan’s Law of Explosive Materials (1953) currently serves as the legal mechanism to enforce the treaty.
Jordan attended the Second Meeting of States Parties in September 2000, with a delegation led by its Permanent Representative in Geneva, Ambassador Shehab Madi. Jordan did not, however, attend intersessional Standing Committee meetings in December 2000 or May 2001. Jordan voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 55/33V in November 2000 supporting the Mine Ban Treaty. Jordan submitted its second annual Article 7 transparency report, in English, on 30 June 2000, covering the period from 1 December 1999 to 30 June 2000.[450] Jordan has not yet submitted the required annual updated Article 7 report, due 30 April 2001, covering calendar year 2000.
Jordan acceded to Amended Protocol II (Landmines) of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) on 6 September 2000 without any reservations, declarations, or understandings. Jordan attended the Second Annual Conference of State Parties to Amended Protocol II in December 2000.
In March 2001, Jordan’s HM Queen Noor participated in “Ban Landmines Week” in Washington DC, including a media event in which she called on all countries to join the Mine Ban Treaty, including the United States. Queen Noor continues to speak in support of the antipersonnel mine ban and advocates for the needs and rights of landmine survivors.
Jordan has never produced or exported antipersonnel mines and has not used mines since 1973.[451]
Jordan declared a stockpile of 93,342 antipersonnel mines in 1999.[452] Stockpile destruction by the Jordanian Army started in September 1999 and as of December 2000 a total of 36,552 mines had been destroyed, including 8,000 on 10 May 2000, 8,000 on 12 September 2000 and 8,000 on 18 December 2000.[453] No further destruction of the remaining 56,790 mines had been reported as of June 2001. Previously, Jordan had stated its intention to complete destruction of its stockpile by September 2001.[454] Jordan will retain 1,000 antipersonnel mines for training, as permitted under Article 3.[455]
There were no changes in Jordan’s mine problem during the reporting period.[456] The Jordanian military has estimated that as many as 220,000 antipersonnel and antitank mines remain in the ground.[457] The June 2000 Article 7 report indicated that there are at least 175,000 antipersonnel mines in five known mined areas and one suspected mined area.[458] The Jordanian military carried out an expanded and updated survey during 2000 that identified new mined areas on the western border, in Al Baqourah area and in the Araba Valley.
In March 2000 King Abdullah commissioned, by royal decree, a civilian-led demining organization, including a National Demining and Rehabilitation Committee (NDRC). The NDRC will be responsible for integrating all aspects of mine action including clearance operations, mine awareness, victim assistance and information management. The aim is to provide the country with an infrastructure for comprehensive landmine action. The NDRC will also work to boost Jordan's participation and cooperation with other international organizations working in mine awareness and victim assistance.
On 27 July 2000, the Jordanian Parliament officially received the legislation establishing the NDRC, together with information on its purposes and the need for such a law.[459] On 12 August the Parliament’s Law Committee approved the legislation after making some adjustments.[460] When the legislation was presented and discussed in the Jordanian Parliament on 15 August, however, the Parliament approved only four of the articles.[461] On 6 February 2001 the Cabinet assigned HM King Abdullah’s National Security Advisor, Prince Talal Bin Mohammad, as the President of the NDRC, and assigned other committee members.[462]
Mine action donors to Jordan have included Canada, Norway, United Kingdom, the United States, and most recently, Germany. The largest donor to Jordan is the United States, which has contributed approximately $6.1 million since 1996. The US contributed $1.51 million in its Fiscal Year 2000 and $947,000 in FY2001. Between September 1999 and October 2000 (FY2000), the US provided the following mine action support: $411,905 for equipment; $943,620 for demining technologies and $155,475 for vehicles.[463] The US Department of Defense conducted two training missions and trained 184 deminers.[464]
On 1 April 2001, the German Ambassador to Jordan presented mine clearance equipment worth approximately $60,000 to the Royal Jordanian Corps of Engineers, at the Engineers Corps School in Zarqa. The equipment included mine detectors, first aid kits, and protective mine clearance suits. Canadian experts designed special helmets for use by the Engineering Corps during mine clearance and on 10 May 2001 Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs presented the helmets to the Engineering Corps during a visit.[465] Deminers have experienced difficulty using ordinary helmets during high temperatures in the Jordan Valley. On 18-19 March 2001, Canada and Norway fielded a joint mine action delegation to discuss needs and requirements of the Jordanian Mine Action Program with the Engineering Corps and other officials.[466]
Mine clearance is the sole responsibility of the Royal Jordanian Corps of Engineers. According to information provided in the most recent Article 7 report, 37,997 antipersonnel mines (and 82,929 mines of all types) have been cleared and destroyed. The Article 7 report states that total land area cleared is fifty square kilometers (5,000 hectares).[467]
During this reporting period, the RCE concentrated its efforts on technical survey of mined areas. Demining priorities are: inhabited land; cultivated land; tourist and historical areas; areas where mines hinder local development; and areas where mines are unstable due to weather or geographical effects.
The Royal Jordanian Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with various international and local organizations, continues to expand its mine awareness activities, especially in the northern and western parts of the country, which is the most mine affected and most densely populated. In October 2000 the Engineering Corps conducted two major mine awareness programs in Naser bin Waleed school (for male students) and in Khadeejah Bint Khwayled school (for female students), which included lectures on the nature and types of mines, mine clearance, preventative measures and how to avoid accidents.[468]
In August 2000, the NGO Landmine Survivors Network conducted a weeklong mine awareness training program in Aqaba for fifty supervisors from youth service centers.[469] From 21- 25 November 2000, the Community Service Office at the University of Jordan held a four-day training course to prepare eighteen students to become mine awareness trainers, which included lectures and film screenings.[470] On 2 March 2001, the Center for Refugees Studies at Yarmouk University in Irbid held a lecture on the landmine issue.[471] Later in March, the University of Jordan held a Landmine Awareness Week, which included a two-day mine awareness training workshop and a swimming sports event by landmine survivors.[472]
The number of civilian mine casualties in 2000 is unknown, but there continue to be a limited number of incidents involving shepherds in remote areas, as well as animals such as camels, cows, sheep and dogs.
Two RCE soldiers suffered injuries while demining; in November 2000 a soldier lost his right foot and in December 2000 a soldier injured both hands. Despite these incidents, the RCE now has an injury rate of one injury per 1,500 mines cleared, compared to three per 1,500 prior to 1997.
The total number of civilian and military mine casualties reported to date is 505 persons, but this number does not reflect the true total, because of underreporting from remote areas and the lack of a registry and systematic reporting.[473]
In 2000, the second phase began of an orthotics/prosthetics training program started in September 1998 by the Al Hussein Society for the Habilitation and Rehabilitation of the Physically Challenged. Five students are in the training program.[474] During the program two children received free prosthetic devices, and more children are expected to receive prosthetic devices as the training program continues to the year 2002.
The Hashemite Charitable Society for Soldiers with Special Needs cares for soldiers with mine injuries and other disabilities. As of June 2001, 132 soldiers with mine injuries were registered with the Society.[475] The Society provides rehabilitation and social reintegration programs to meet the needs of these soldiers.
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[450] Article 7 report, submitted on 30 June 2000, covering the period from 1 December 1999 to 30 June 2000.
[451] Interview with Brigadier General Naser Majali, Commander of the Royal Corps of Engineers, Amman, Jordan, 25 January 2000.
[452] For details see Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 896.
[453] Previously, 4,552 mines were destroyed on 6 September 1999 and 8,000 on 6 December 1999. Article 7 report, submitted on 30 June 2000, Annex C and Form G. For recent destruction, see, “The destruction of 8,000 AP Landmines,” Al Rai Daily, 11 May 2001; “The RCE Implements the fourth phase of stockpile destruction,” Al Aswaq Daily, 13 September 2000; “Jordan destroys a new amount of landmine stockpile,” Al Quds Daily, 13 September 2000. “Destroying another 8,000 AP Landmines,” Al Arab Yom Daily, 19 December 2000; Al Dostour Daily, 19 December 2000.
[454] Article 7 report, submitted on 30 June 2000, Form D.
[455] Ibid, this will include 800 M-14 mines, 100 M-35 mines and 100 M-18A1 mines.
[456] For details see Landmine Monitor Report 2000, pp. 896-897.
[457] Dalya Dajani, “Military sources note 220,000 landmines remain on Jordanian soil,” Jordan Times Daily, 30 August 2000.
[458] Article 7 report, submitted on 30 June 2000, Form C.
[459] Rakan Al Sa’aydeh, “The Parliament received the law for the National Demining Committee,” Al Arab Yom Daily, 28 July 2000.
[460] “The Law Committee of the Jordanian Parliament approved the Law of the NDRC,” Al Rai Daily, 13 August 2000, p. 2.
[461] “The Parliament approved 4 Article of the NDRC’s Law,” Al Rai Daily, 16 August 2000,
[462] The committee members are Ambassador Nabeel Al Talhouni, the Director of the Royal Jordanian Corps of Engineers, the Director of the Civil Defense Department, the Dean of the Medical College of the University of Jordan, retired Major General Tahseen Shurthum, the Director of the Jordan Red Crescent, Mrs. Rana Sabbagh, the Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Operations and Training and retired General Abdullah Al Qaisi. Imad Abdel Rahman, “The Prime Ministry assigns the NDRC members,” Al Rai Daily, 7 February 2001.
[463] US Department of State, Office of Humanitarian Demining Programs, “FY00 NADR Project Status,” 27 December 2000.
[464] US Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, "HD FY00 for Landmine Monitor," 7 June 2001.
[465] “Canadian mine clearance helmets specially designed for Jordan,” Al Dostour Daily, 7 May 2001, p. 20.
[466] Interview with the delegation, Amman, 18 March 2001.
[467] Article 7 report, 30 June 2000, Form G. Though not confirmed, the Landmine Monitor researcher believes that in 2000, about 150 hectares (1,500,000 square meters) of land were cleared, including 1,800 mines; about half the land was returned to owners and harvested and invested.
[468] “Opening a Landmine Exhibition, in Ajloun Universities,” Al Dostour Daily, 13 October 2000, p. 17.
[469] Dalya Dajani, “Military sources note 220,000 landmines remain on Jordanian soil,” Jordan Times Daily, 30 August 2000.
[470] “Ending a course on how to prepare mine awareness trainers,” Al Dostour Daily, 26 November 2000.
[471] “A lecture on refugees and landmines, and the human losses,” Al Rai Daily, 3 March 2001, p. 6.
[472] Dalya Dajani, “UJ launches Landmine Awareness Week,” Jordan Times Daily, 26 March 2001; Al Dostour Daily, 26 March 2001; Al Rai Daily, 26 March 2001.
[473] Casualty statistics provided to Landmine Monitor by the Jordanian Armed Forces.
[474] Interview with Lutz Vollstein, Director of the program, Amman, 3 April 2001, as well as several visits to the program by the Landmine Monitor researcher.
[475] Interview with HRH Prince Mired Bin Ra’ad, HCSSSN, Amman, 25 June 2001.
