Fourteen out of a total of eighteen countries of the Middle East and North Africa region have not signed the Mine Ban Treaty. Of the non-signatories, those that have shown the most interest in a ban are Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Sadly, some of the seriously mine-affected countries have shown the least amount of interest in a ban.
Bahrain
Bahrain did not participate in the Brussels conference or the Oslo negotiations and it has not signed the ban treaty. Bahrain did however vote "Yes" on the 1996 UNGA Resolution supporting negotiations of a total ban on antipersonnel mines as soon as possible and "Yes" on the 1997 UNGA Resolution inviting all states to sign the Mine Ban Treaty. Bahrain is not mine-affected.
Egypt
Egypt is one of the most mine-affected countries in the world. It is also the sole remaining antipersonnel mine producer on the continent of Africa. The U.N. Department of Humanitarian Affairs Landmine Database in January 1997 reported that Egypt suffered from some 23 million landmines. The Egyptian government reports that these mines have claimed 5,017 civilian casualties, resulting in 418 dead. The government also claims that mined areas make up 288,000 hectares. Most of these landmines are left over from the World War II, particularly in the area of the El Alamein battlefield. Areas near the Egypt/Libya border, along the Red Sea coast of the Eastern Desert and areas of the Sinai peninsula are also known to have uncleared mines. The mines found in Egypt range from German, U.S. and British mines of World War II vintage to modern British, U.S., Russian and Israeli types. Civilian casualties are not rare. For example on 5 January 1996 three Israeli tourists were killed and one injured when their jeep set off a landmine in the Sinai desert. In the Qantra region two Egyptian farmers were injured by a landmine explosion in the same month. Egypt reports that its mine clearance efforts to date have removed 11 million mines from 103,000 hectares of land.
Egypt has produced mines in at least three facilities, all of them run by the Ministry of War Production as part of its 10-plant Egyptian Military Factories (EMF) group. They include licenced versions or close copies of Russian, Italian and American designs. Egyptian mines are known to have been deployed in Afghanistan, Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Nicaragua, Rwanda and Somalia.
One of these firms, the Helipolis Company for Chemical Industries (EMF Factory 81) has exported a small plastic antipersonnel mine, the T/78, to a number of Middle Eastern countries. It is not known if EMF’s other mine-producing facilities - the Kaha company for Chemical Industries (Factory 270) and the Maasara Company for Engineering Industries (Factory 45) - also have exported mines. Egypt produces at least twelve types of antitank mines and six types of antipersonnel mines: a copy of the Czech PP-MI-SK; the T/79, a copy of the Italian VS-50; U/I Bounding Fragmentation Stake antipersonnel mine; U/I Bounding antipersonnel mine; U/I shallow-water antipersonnel mine.
Egypt has been aggressive in seeking international financial support to clear its minefields. What it does not say is that it maintains a significant mine production capacity and has exported to at least seven countries. Egypt announced at an Organization of African Unity conference in May 1997 that it no longer exported antipersonnel mines.
Egypt voted "Yes" on the 1996 UNGA Resolution supporting negotiations of a total ban on antipersonnel mines as soon as possible and attended the Brussels and Oslo negotiations as an observer. It abstained from voting on the 1997 UNGA Resolution inviting all states to sign the Mine Ban Treaty. Egypt has spoken out against the Ottawa process and has not signed the treaty.
Iran
Iran has a severe problem with uncleared landmines along its borders with Iraq, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan. Thousands of civilians, including farmers and shepards, have fallen casualty to landmines left over from the 1980-1988 Iran/Iraq war. The government of Iran has estimated its uncleared landmines at 16 million, reports a lack of maps and clearance equipment and places great emphasis on the international community’s responsibility for transfer of technology and facilitation of demining.
Iranian military and private experts believe that Iran produced significant quantities of antipersonnel mines during the Iran/Iraq war yet no open source contains data on Iranian production of antipersonnel mines. In December 1997, a representative of the Government of Iran said that it does not export antipersonnel mines.
Iran was a full participant to the October 1996 Ottawa strategy meeting and also participated in the Brussels conference but did not sign the Brussels declaration. Iran participated in the Oslo negotiations as an observer. Iran was absent from voting on the 1996 UNGA Resolution supporting negotiations of a total ban on antipersonnel mines as soon as possible and abstained from voting on the 1997 UNGA Resolution inviting all states to sign the Mine Ban Treaty. Iran did not sign the ban treaty but it did attend the signing ceremonies, and made a statement, "We welcome the initiative by some states to ban [antipersonnel mines] through adoption of a legally binding agreement amongst themselves."
Iraq
Iraq is severely mine-affected as a consequence of the Gulf War, the Iran/Iraq War, and two decades of internal conflict. Mines Advisory Group estimates that at least four million landmines were laid in northern Iraq (Kurdistan). The Iran/Iraq and Iraq/Kuwait borders are also mined. Almost any kind of antipersonnel mine can be found in Iraq -- some of the more common mines are of Italian, Russian, Belgian, Chinese and U.S. origin. Landmines have prevented the return of refugees and displaced persons, particularly in the area bordering Iran.
Iraq has been involved since the 1970s in the establishment of a domestic landmine production capacity. Though Iraq deployed enormous quantities of mines in Kuwait and Iraqi Kurdistan, the vast majority of mines used were imported. Iraq has manufactured a copy of the Italian Valsella Valmara 69 bounding antipersonnel mine, at least one antipersonnel mine developed with Yugoslav assistance, one ex-Soviet model and two older Italian mine designs.
Iraq did not participate in meetings of the Ottawa Process, did not cosponsor relevant U.N. General Assembly resolutions and did not sign the Mine Ban Treaty.
Israel
Civilians have fallen casualty to uncleared landmines in the Golan Heights and in other territory conquered by Israel in the 1967 war. Israel’s borders with Jordan and Syria are mined but Israel is now undertaking joint demining operations with Jordan. In addition, both Israeli forces and guerrillas have reportedly used mines in the Israeli-occupied border zone in Lebanon.
Israel has been a significant landmine producer and exporter. Up to 80 percent of the landmine sales of Israel Military Industries (IMI) went to foreign customers before the government instituted a moratorium on the export of antipersonnel mines in 1996. Israel has produced and exported antipersonnel mines since at least the 1970s, when it provided some to South Africa. In recent years, IMI, based in Ramat Hasharon, has produced two types of antipersonnel mines, and Tel Aviv-based Explosive Industries Ltd. (EIL) has produced one type. Nations listed in the trade press as acquiring IMI mines include Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nigeria and Zaire. EIL’s No. 4 plastic antipersonnel mine was found by British deminers in the Falklands/Malvinas. Israel has increasingly become involved in marketing its mine clearance products.
Israel did not endorse the Brussels declaration, and did not attend the Oslo negotiations. Israel did not sign the ban treaty but sent a delegation to the ceremonies. Israel abstained from voting on the 1996 UNGA Resolution supporting negotiations of a total ban on antipersonnel mines as soon as possible and abstained from voting on the 1997 UNGA Resolution inviting all states to sign the Mine Ban Treaty. It has not yet signed the ban treaty.
Jordan
According to the 1994 U.S. State Department Report Hidden Killers, Jordan has a problem with uncleared landmines resulting in between five and ten landmine casualties every year especially shepards, farmers, hunters and military personnel. Mines are found along Jordan’s borders with Israel and Syria; however, sporadic floods have washed mines downstream.
Jordan appeared to be one of the strongest supporters of the Ottawa Process in the region. Jordan endorsed the Brussels declaration and attended the Oslo negotiations as a full participant. Jordan voted "Yes" on the 1996 UNGA Resolution supporting negotiations of a total ban on antipersonnel mines as soon as possible and voted "Yes" on the 1997 UNGA Resolution calling on states to sign the Mine Ban Treaty. Yet, Jordan did not sign the ban treaty in December.
Kuwait
According to a 1993 U.S. State Department report, during the recent Persian Gulf War, Iraqi forces laid millions of mines to prevent Allied Forces from recapturing Kuwaiti territory. Allied forces also dropped Gator scatterable antipersonnel mines from the air. In the aftermath of the conflict, Kuwait had an estimated 728 square kilometers of mined land seeded with landmines of Russian, Italian and U.S. origin. The Government of Kuwait spent over U.S. $700 million hiring over 4000 private contractors from a number of different countries who cleared over 1.6 million mines and unexploded ordnance. Eighty-four people lost their lives and 200 were injured in this massive clearance effort. According to the Kuwait Minister of Defence, there have been between 1700 and 2300 civilian casualties.
Kuwait participated in the Brussels conference but did not endorse the Brussels declaration. Kuwait was a full participant to the Oslo negotiations but did not sign the ban treaty despite having voted "Yes" on the 1996 and 1997 UNGA Resolutions.
Lebanon
According to the US State Department reports, over two decades of civil war and factional strife have left Lebanon with more than 20,000 uncleared landmines spread in 182 unmapped minefields covering both rural and urban areas. Lebanese officials put the number ten times higher -- 200,000. Russian, U.S, Israeli, Italian, French, Chinese, Hungarian, Czech and Belgian-origin antipersonnel mines have been found in Lebanon. In addition, both Israeli forces and guerrillas have reportedly used mines in the Israeli-occupied border zone.
Lebanon participated in the Brussels conference but did not endorse the Brussels declaration. Lebanon did not participate in the Oslo negotiations and did not sign the Mine Ban Treaty despite having voted "Yes" on both the 1996 and 1997 UNGA Resolutions.
Libya
Libya has planted mines at various strategic locations, such as the beaches of the Gulf of Sidra and on its borders with Egypt and neighboring countries to the south. Libya suffers from landmines of World War II origin. In addition to Russian stocks of PDM-1M, PMNs and POMZ-2 antipersonnel mines, there are World War II vintage mines of German, British, U.S. and Italian origin.
Libya attended the Brussels conference and Oslo negotiations as an observer. Libya was absent when nations voted on the 1996 and 1997 UNGA Resolutions. It has spoken against the Ottawa process and did not sign the treaty.
Morocco and Western Sahara
There is a significant mine problem in southern Morocco, bordering on the Western Sahara. Since 1973, the Spanish, Moroccans and Polisario have laid thousands of mines in these border areas. There are frequent reports of injuries to civilians. The situation is further complicated because minefields have been laid by a succession of forces and that mines laid in wadis are subject to be washed away, sometimes dozens of kilometers during heavy rains. Mines are frequently reported in the Jbel Quarkziz mountains.
Morocco voted "Yes" on the 1996 UNGA Resolution, but attended the Brussels conference and Oslo negotiations only as an observer. Morocco abstained from voting on the 1997 UNGA Resolution calling on nations to sign the treaty. It has spoken out against the Ottawa process and has not yet signed the treaty.
Although recognized by the OAU, the Western Sahara (Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic) remains a disputed territory, partly occupied by Morocco. It does not have a seat at the U.N. However, Polisario has indicated that if it could, it would support the Ottawa process.
Since 1973, the Spanish, Moroccans and Polisario have laid thousands of mines. There are frequent reports of injuries to civilians. The situation is further complicated because minefields have been laid by a succession of forces and mines laid in wadis are subject to be washed away, sometimes dozens of kilometers during heavy rains. There are notable concentrations in the Saguia El-Hamra "Panhandle" region west of Semera as well as along the defensive works surrounding Moroccan-controlled territory.
Oman
Oman participated in the Brussels conference but did not endorse the Brussels declaration. Oman attended the Oslo negotiations as an observer. Oman voted "Yes" on both the 1996 and 1997 UNGA Resolutions. Oman did not sign the ban treaty but it did attend the signing ceremonies in December. Oman is not mine-affected.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia participated in the Brussels conference but did not endorse the Brussels declaration. Saudi Arabia attended the Oslo negotiations as an observer. Saudi Arabia voted "Yes" on the 1996 and 1997 UNGA Resolutions. Saudi Arabia has not yet signed the treaty. It is not mine-affected.
Syrian Arab Republic
Minefields have been laid over the past twenty years in grazing areas adjacent to the UN buffer zone. The Golan Heights, currently divided between Israel, Syria and a UN buffer zone, are heavily mined with unmarked and unmapped minefields which civilians, especially shepards, suffer casualties to on a regular basis. The landmines found are of U.S., Russian, Czech and French origin. The United Nations Disengagement Forces have been involved in mine clearance efforts.
Syria did not participate in meetings of the Ottawa Process and did not sign the ban treaty but did attend the signing ceremonies in December. Syria abstained from voting on both the 1996 and 1997 UNGA Resolutions. Syria has spoken out against the Ottawa Process and has not signed the treaty.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates participated in the Brussels conference but did not endorse the Brussels declaration. It attended the Oslo negotiations as a full participant. The United Arab Emirates voted "Yes" on the 1996 UNGA Resolution supporting negotiations of a total ban on antipersonnel mines as soon as possible and it voted "Yes" on the 1997 UNGA Resolution calling on nations to sign the Mine Ban Treaty. The United Arab Emirates has not signed the treaty. It is not mine-affected.
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This Fact Sheet was prepared by Mary Wareham, Senior Advocate for the Arms Division of Human Rights Watch, in June 1998. Sections of this Fact Sheet are drawn from a May 1998 Human Rights Watch Fact Sheet by Alex Vines entitled "The Mine Ban Treaty and Africa".
Mary Wareham
Senior Advocate, Arms Division
Human Rights Watch
1522 K St. NW, #910
Washington DC 20005
Tel. +1-202-371-6592
Fax. +1-202-371-0124
email. wareham@hrw.org
http://www.hrw.org