Too Many States Not on Course to Meet Mine Clearance Deadlines: Landmine Monitor Report 2007 Released on 12 November

5. Too Many States Not on Course to Meet Mine Clearance Deadlines: Landmine Monitor Report 2007 Released on 12 November

Cover photo © Camilo Solano, 5 December 2006. Fransiney Chaux Grisalez coordinates the Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCCM) in the department of Caquetá. On 24 February 2002, he stepped on a mine planted on a road. Fransiney educates landmine survivors about their rights, helps them apply for government assistance, and conducts mine risk education workshops.

 

Although increased funding and fewer casualties were reported in 2006, many countries are not on course to meet their Mine Ban Treaty clearance obligations.

Landmine Monitor Report 2007 warns that 14 of 29 countries with treaty mandated clearance deadlines in 2009 or 2010 do not appear on track to meet them, despite a treaty provision allowing for 10 years to complete mine clearance. Of the 14, France, Niger, the United Kingdom and Venezuela have failed to even start formal clearance operations.

“Some countries that should have met their clearance deadlines will probably not be able to do so. Both donors and mine-affected countries must work harder to ensure that countries live up to their obligations under international law,” said Mr. Stuart Casey-Maslen of Norwegian People’s Aid, Landmine Monitor’s Mine Action Editor.

In 2006, 217,000 antipersonnel mines, 18,000 anti-vehicle mines and 2.15 million explosive remnants of war were cleared.

Government use of antipersonnel mines declined further in 2006, with only two countries continuing to lay new mines. Myanmar/Burma and Russia have been persistent exceptions to the global downward trend in landmine use, with Myanmar accounting for the most extensive mine use in 2006. Non-state armed groups in at least eight countries also used antipersonnel mines or antipersonnel mine-like improvised explosive devices.

Mine casualties fell by 16%, to 5,751 in 2006, although countries including Myanmar/Burma and Lebanon recorded increased casualty rates due to conflict. Lebanon noted an approximately tenfold casualty increase from the previous year. Forty-one percent of all recorded casualties were in three countries: Afghanistan, Cambodia and Colombia. Three-quarters of all recorded casualties were civilians, and 34% of civilian casualties were children. Colombia continued to register the highest number of reported casualties, with 1,106 in 2006, averaging three casualties per day.

“The long-running conflict and the use of mines create a volatile situation in Colombia. There are now thousands of Colombian survivors who have life-long needs as a result of their injuries,” said Katleen Maes of Handicap International, Landmine Monitor’s Victim Assistance Editor.

Landmine Monitor identified at least 473,000 landmine survivors globally as of August 2007, many of whom will require life-long care as a result of their injuries. Millions more continue to live in mine-affected areas.

Of the 20 largest mine action donors, 15 provided more funding in 2006 than 2005, including the European Commission and the United States. International funding for mine action totaled US$475 million in 2006, an increase of some $100 million from 2005, and the highest level ever recorded by Landmine Monitor.

One hundred and fifty-five nations have joined the Mine Ban Treaty, including Iraq, which acceded in August 2007.

Jackie Hansen, Landmine Monitor

**This is the ninth annual Landmine Monitor report and it is available online at www.icbl.org/lm/2007**