In May 2006, Afghanistan reported that since signing the Mine Ban Treaty,
65,973 stockpiled mines had been destroyed, including 44,819 since the beginning
of 2005. Afghanistan served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim
Assistance and Socio-economic Reintegration from December 2005 to September
2006. The pace of demining accelerated in 2005; the amount of land demined
increased by over one-third to almost 140 square kilometers, despite
deteriorating security. Mine clearance operations ran into severe funding
shortfalls in mid-2006; the laying-off of demining personnel was announced in
July, with further cuts expected. Mine risk education reached over 1.8 million
Afghans and 2,365 communities in 2005. There were 848 new casualties recorded in
2005, maintaining the relatively constant casualty rate of recent years;
however, child casualties continued to increase.
Albania
In April 2006 the parliament adopted national implementation legislation.
Albania revealed that it possesses antivehicle mines with breakwires and that it
plans to destroy them. DanChurchAid demined and released 1.38 square kilometers
of mine-affected land in northeast Albania in 2005, where mine risk education
continued. Most casualties occurred in a different part of the country, caused
by explosive remnants of war. In 2005, 23 new casualties were recorded; only two
casualties were in the northeast.
Algeria
Algeria completed its stockpile destruction on 21 November 2005. A total of
150,050 antipersonnel mines of 10 different types were destroyed in 12
destruction events over the course of a year. Algeria served as co-chair of the
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies from December 2004 until December 2005. From November 2004 to 31
March 2006, the army discovered and destroyed 190,858 emplaced antipersonnel
mines (six percent of the three million-plus mines on Algeria’s eastern
and western borders). Algeria also destroyed 10,996 antipersonnel mines laid by
its army during the struggle with insurgent groups in the 1990s. In May 2006,
the government and UN Development Programme negotiated a cooperation agreement
on mine action. There was a significant increase in casualties from mines,
unexploded ordnance and victim-activated improvised explosive devices in 2005,
with at least 15 people killed and 36 injured.
Angola
In May 2006, Angola again indicated it may require an extension of its 1
January 2007 deadline for completion of antipersonnel mine stockpile
destruction, but the Mine Ban Treaty does not allow extensions. National
implementation legislation has been sent to the parliament. In 2005, 14.2 square
kilometers of land and 668 kilometers of roads were demined, according to
Angola; demining operators reported less clearance. In December 2005, the
Executive Commission for Demining was created, to increase the efficiency and
capacity of Angola’s national demining institutions. The Landmine Impact
Survey continued and by May 2006 had been completed in 15 of 18 provinces. In
2006, Angola drafted its first mine action strategic plan, for 2006-2011. It
aims to change mine action in Angola to a dual focus on humanitarian
requirements and national reconstruction and development requirements. Mine risk
education extended to 17 provinces reaching 440,334 people in 2005; the focus
changed from an emergency approach to a more development-oriented approach. In
2005, there were at least 96 new casualties from mines and unexploded ordnance,
a significant decrease from 2004; most incidents involved antipersonnel mines.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Stockpile
Destruction from December 2004 to December 2005. No mine casualties were
reported in Bangladesh in 2005 and January-May 2006; there were eight
UXO-related casualties in 2005. Between 1999 and 2005, 163 people were killed
and 1,281 were injured by improvised explosive devices, according to initial
survey results.
Belarus
After signing a contract with the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency in
February 2006, Belarus began destroying its remaining stockpile of 294,755
antipersonnel mines, other than PFM mines. It reported destroying 3,600
antipersonnel mines in 2005. Belarus will also destroy the victim-activated
components of its MON-type and OZM-72 mines. The Ministry of Defense signed a
“statement of endorsement” to accept technical assistance from the
European Commission for the destruction of 3.37 million PFM mines on 6 May 2006,
with the goal of starting the project in January 2007. More than 31,000
explosive remnants of war were destroyed in clearance operations in 2005,
including almost 3,000 land-mines of which 58 were antipersonnel mines. In May
2006, a senior Ministry of Defense official declared that 353 square kilometers
of land required clearance. There was one incident with four casualties due to
unexploded ordnance in 2005, a decrease from the five incidents and 16
casualties in 2004.
Bhutan
Bhutan acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 18 August 2005 and the treaty
entered into force on 1 February 2006.
Bolivia
Bolivia reported that the process for enacting domestic implementation
legislation was underway. On 7 April 2006, the President of Bolivia promulgated
the National Plan for Equality and Equal Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mine clearance and technical survey in 2005 released 10.6 square kilometers
of land, more than in 2004 but much less than required by the 2005-2009
strategic plan. Over 100,000 people received mine risk education in 2005. The
downward trend in new casualties continued in 2005; 19 casualties were reported.
In January 2006, EUFOR found the largest weapons cache since the beginning of
its operation in BiH, including more than 500 antipersonnel mines. Hundreds of
antipersonnel mines were collected from the population under Operation Harvest
in 2005. BiH reported that at the end of 2005, it retained 1,305 active
antipersonnel mines, 822 fuzeless mines and 15,343 MRUD (Claymore-type)
directional fragmentation mines.
Brunei
Brunei ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 24 April 2006. The ICBL undertook an
advocacy mission to Brunei in March 2006, and the treaty’s Implementation
Support Unit visited in early April. Officials confirmed that Brunei stockpiles
only command-detonated Claymore mines, numbering between 500 and 1,000.
Burundi
Burundi stated that rebels continue to use antipersonnel mines. A general
survey was initiated in mid-2005 to determine the extent of contamination by
mines and explosive remnants of war. DanChurchAid cleared 1,998 square meters of
land, reducing the contaminated area by a further 15.5 square kilometers in
2005. Handicap International trained 255 mine risk education volunteers, who
reached nearly 37,000 beneficiaries.
Cambodia
Cambodia declared that from 2000 to 2005 a total of 71,136 stockpiled
antipersonnel mines were newly discovered and destroyed, including 16,878 in
2005, the largest number for a single year. Mine clearance increased by more
than 63 percent in 2005, due to increased clearance by the Cambodian Mine Action
Center and due to other operators recognizing land under cultivation and free of
accidents as low-risk. This area reduction strategy was endorsed by the
government in May 2006. In 2005, there were 875 new landmine/UXO casualties,
maintaining the daily average of two new casualties since 2000. To address this,
the mine risk education strategy was revised in 2006. Twenty-two deminer
casualties were recorded in 2005, but only 14 were accounted for by known
operators. For the first time, the Cambodian armed forces sent deminers to join
a UN peacekeeping mission.
Chad
The National Strategic Plan to Fight Mines and UXO was revised in 2005 to
take account of the Mine Ban Treaty Article 5 deadline for clearance of all
mined areas; however, it aims only for “zero victims” and “no
impact” by the 2009 deadline. The Council of Ministers approved national
implementation legislation in October 2005 and submitted it to parliament. A UN
assessment in July 2005 concluded that management and financial problems
jeopardized Chad’s mine action program; in December, UN financial support
was suspended after Chad failed to provide its pledged funding for mine action;
UNDP reinstated some funding in mid-2006. In 2005, 285,172 square meters were
cleared of mines, with an additional two square kilometers of battle area
clearance. Two mine risk education campaigns reached around 110,000 Sudanese
refugees and local people in 2005. Some emergency MRE was undertaken after
renewed conflict in April 2006. The number of recorded casualties continued to
increase, despite limited data collection; in 2005, there were at least 35
casualties, and from January to June 2006, there were at least 54 new casualties
from mines and unexploded ordnance.
Chile
A proposal by Chile and Argentina for expanded reporting on mines retained
for training and development purposes was agreed by States Parties in December
2005. Chile announced that in 2006 it would destroy 1,292 antipersonnel mines no
longer needed for training, in addition to 300 mines expected to be consumed
during training. Chile is still preparing legislation to more fully and
specifically implement the Mine Ban Treaty. Between April 2005 and April 2006,
Chile cleared 2,239 antipersonnel mines and 843 antivehicle mines. Two new
demining fronts were opened, in Tambo Quemado in July 2005 and in Llullaillaco
National Park in February 2006. Chile fenced 14 newly mine-suspected areas
between August and December 2005. An agreement was signed for €1 million
in European Commission funding for mine action in Chile. There were two landmine
casualties and six UXO casualties in 2005, an increase from 2004 (no mine
casualties).
Colombia
Non-state armed groups, most notably FARC, continued to use antipersonnel
mines and improvised explosive devices extensively. Colombia initiated mine
clearance of the military bases. Clearance of one base was completed, was
ongoing in a second, and impact surveys had been carried out on 17 bases.
Despite inadequate data collection, Colombia recorded a significant increase in
casualties in 2005: 1,110, approximately three casualties per day, compared with
882 in 2004, 734 in 2003 and 627 in 2002.
Democratic Republic of Congo
In May 2006, the Democratic Republic of Congo told States Parties that it had
completed the destruction of all stockpiled antipersonnel mines under its
control that it had been able to identify, and thus fulfilled its treaty
obligation. It also said it expected to find additional stockpiles of
antipersonnel mines in the future, which it would destroy. There have been a few
reports of rebel use of antipersonnel mines during conflict related to the
demobilization process. In 2005, mine action in DRC received only three percent
of funding requested through the consolidated appeals process and 22 percent of
funding requested through the UN portfolio process. One mine action operator
closed operations in DRC due to lack of funding. A total of 446,498 square
meters of land and 60.6 kilometers of roads in inhabited areas of Equateur,
Katanga and Orientale provinces were cleared during 2005; 1,172 mines, 28,337
items of unexploded ordnance and 49,288 other explosive remnants of war were
destroyed. Mine risk education continued to be limited, but UNICEF for the first
time received funding for activities in four provinces. In 2005, there were at
least 45 casualties, including 14 people killed and 31 injured; less than in
2004 and much less than in 2003.
Cook Islands
Cook Islands ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 16 March 2006, and the treaty
entered into force for the country on 1 September 2006.
Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire indicated that it is not mine-affected, despite
recent armed conflict. The United Nations peacekeeping mission and French forces
carried out 18 operations to dispose of unexploded ordnance. Two children were
killed by unexploded ordnance in 2005.
Croatia
Croatia hosted the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in November-December 2005.
It served as President of the Meeting, a position with responsibilities until
the next Meeting of States Parties in September 2006. In May 2006, Croatia
stated that it had removed the tilt rods from its TMRP-6 mines. The Croatian
company, Agencija Alan, removed TMRP-6 mines from its website and sales
catalogues. On 15 December 2005, parliament passed the Law on Humanitarian
Demining and the Law on Special Rights for Social Security and Pension Insurance
for the Humanitarian Demining program. Of the total of 32 square kilometers
planned for demining, Croatia released only 27.2 square kilometers.
Parliamentarians criticized the slow pace of demining and limited implementation
of victim assistance. There were 20 recorded landmine/UXO casualties in 2005,
more than in 2004.
Cyprus
A national plan for the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, including
stockpile destruction and mine clearance, was finalized in August 2005. Cyprus
destroyed 11,000 antipersonnel mines in 2005 and another 18,000 were slated for
destruction in 2006. In May 2006, Cyprus made known its positions on certain
matters of interpretation and implementation related to Articles 1, 2 and 3 of
the Mine Ban Treaty. Clearance of National Guard minefields in the buffer zone
was completed in July 2005. In August 2005, an agreement was reached to clear
Turkish forces’ minefields inside the buffer zone. As of April 2006, 20 of
the 48 minefields in the buffer zone had been cleared, with the release of more
than 900,000 square meters of land. Cyprus reported the destruction of 237
antipersonnel mines in two Republic-controlled mined areas outside the buffer
zone in 2005.
Denmark
In November 2005, Denmark announced that it would allocate DKK86 million
(nearly US$15 million) to clear landmines from the Skallingen peninsula, which
it first reported as a mined area in its Article 7 report in 1999. In May 2006,
a British commercial company was selected from among the five companies that
pre-qualified. Denmark ratified CCW Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War on
28 June 2005. Denmark destroyed 1,929 of its retained antipersonnel mines in
training activities in 2005, leaving 60 mines.
Djibouti
Djibouti enacted national implementation legislation in March 2006.
El Salvador
El Salvador joined CCW Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War on 23 March
2006. In March 2006, El Salvador reiterated that it does not have a mine
problem. Nine mines and 370 items of unexploded ordnance and other explosive
devices were discovered and destroyed by the National Civilian Police in 2005. A
total of 4,823 people received risk education. In 2005, there were at least four
mine/ERW casualties. As of 11 May 2006, El Salvador—one of the 24 States
Parties with significant numbers of mine survivors—had not submitted Form
J of its annual Article 7 report nor otherwise provided updates on its victim
assistance plans.
Eritrea
In May 2006, the UN arms embargo monitoring group reported that the
government of Eritrea had delivered 1,000 antipersonnel mines to militant
fundamentalists in Somalia. Eritrea denied the claims as “baseless and
unfounded” and labeled the report as “outrageous and
regrettable.” In October 2005, Eritrea reported that it no longer retains
any live mines for training purposes. Eritrea has not reported any national
measures to implement the Mine Ban Treaty, as required by Article 9. Eritrea
ended the UN mine action capacity-building program that was suspended in
mid-2005 following government seizure of demining vehicles. In October 2005, the
UN suspended mine clearance adjacent to the Temporary Security Zone when Eritrea
banned UN helicopter flights (needed for medical evacuation during demining).
Eritrean demining teams cleared almost 2.2 square kilometers of land in 2005.
Over 129,000 people received mine risk education, including safety briefings for
3,433 UN peacekeepers, staff and NGO workers. There were 68 recorded new
casualties from mines and unexploded ordnance, a significant increase from 2004.
Estonia
During 2005, planned clearance operations destroyed 2,066 items of unexploded
ordnance, including more than 890 items in the south, more than 400 on Saaremaa
Island and more than 400 in the northeast of the country; only four of these
items were mines. From 1 January to 7 May, 559 explosive items were found, two
of which were mines.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 June 2005. Ethiopia
has not yet submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, which was due
by 28 November 2005. In October 2005 and May 2006, the UN arms embargo
monitoring group for Somalia reported that the government of Ethiopia had
provided unspecified types of landmines to factions in Somalia; Ethiopia
strongly denied the allegations. In 2005, Ethiopia reported that more than 11
square kilometers of land was demined (area reduction of seven square kilometers
of land and clearance of 4.3 square kilometers), destroying 184 antipersonnel
mines, 98 antivehicle mines and 6,607 items of unexploded ordnance; according to
the UN Development Programme, some six square kilometers was returned to
civilian use in 2005. Norwegian People’s Aid began operating in Ethiopia
in November 2005; it developed a mine detection dog and area reduction/technical
survey capacity in Ethiopia. In April 2006, the European Commission pledged at
least €8 million (US$10 million) to mine action in Ethiopia over three
years. There were at least 31 new casualties in 2005, more than in 2004, but
data collection remained inadequate.
France
Although there are no recorded mined areas in mainland France, it has treaty
obligations in respect of any mined areas under its jurisdiction or control
elsewhere. France announced that it planned to initiate clearance of
antipersonnel mines around its ammunition depot in Djibouti in October 2006,
more than seven years after becoming a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty.
Greece
In 2005, the Greek Army battalion, TENX, surveyed almost 2.25 square
kilometers in various locations across the country, mainly in the Grammos and
Vitsi mountains in the northwest. As of 10 April 2006, 10,002 of the 24,751
antipersonnel mines had been cleared from the minefields on the Evros River
bordering Turkey. In 2005, at least seven people were killed and one other was
injured in the Evros minefields. Landmine Monitor identified one instance of
rehabilitation and other assistance provided to a civilian mine survivor in
Greece.
Guatemala
On 15 December 2005, Guatemala completed its National Demining Program and
declared that it had fulfilled its obligations under Article 5 of the Mine Ban
Treaty. A mobile demining unit was created to respond to reports of residual
mines and explosive remnants of war. In 2005, 23 mines were discovered in
clearance operations, 114,479 people in 495 mine-affected communities received
mine risk education, and there were at least two people killed and seven injured
by unexploded ordnance. In December 2005, Guatemala became co-chair of the
Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Mine Ban Treaty.
Guinea-Bissau
On 17 October 2005, Guinea-Bissau completed destruction of its stockpile of
10,654 antipersonnel mines, just ahead of its 1 November 2005 treaty deadline.
In March and April 2006, a faction of the Senegal-based Movement of Democratic
Forces of Casamance laid antipersonnel and antivehicle mines in northern
Guinea-Bissau, causing civilian casualties and significant socioeconomic
disruption. Casualties in 2005 fell by almost half from 2004, but by June 2006
had risen again to double the 2005 level. As of June, there were 37 new
casualties, mostly the result of one incident causing 28 casualties. The
capital, Bissau, became free of mined areas by the end of June 2006.
Guyana
As of June 2006, Guyana had not yet submitted its initial Article 7
transparency report, due by 29 July 2004.
Haiti
Haiti ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 15 February 2006 and it entered into
force on 1 August 2006.
Honduras
In 2005, Landmine Monitor recorded the first new mine casualty in Honduras
since reporting began in 1999.
Jordan
Jordan offered to host the Eighth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban
Treaty in November 2007. Jordan became co-chair of the Standing Committee for
Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies in December
2005. Jordan published its first five-year mine action plan in June 2005. To
accelerate mine clearance in efforts to meet its Article 5 deadline, Jordan
decided that Norwegian People’s Aid should start clearance operations in
2006; clearance was previously carried out only by army engineers. The army
reported clearing a total of 2,943,380 square meters of land in 2005. A strategy
and annual plan for mine risk education was agreed. There were at least seven
new casualties in 2005.
Kenya
In 2005, the newly established International Mine Action Training Centre, a
joint British-Kenyan project, trained and equipped deminers from Kenya, Nigeria,
Somaliland and Uganda. In 2006, it provided training to deminers from Rwanda and
Sudan. Handicap International started a two-year project to provide mine risk
education to Sudanese refugees in Kakuma camp in Kenya. During 2005, 16
casualties were recorded in one landmine incident.
Latvia
Latvia became a State Party on 1 January 2006. It submitted its initial
Article 7 report, which indicates a stockpile of 2,410 mines will be destroyed
in 2006, while 1,301 mines will be retained for training. During 2005, more than
8,000 explosive remnants of war including 200 antitank and antipersonnel mines
were found and destroyed. In August 2005, Latvia’s explosive ordnance
disposal school was formally accorded the status of a national educational
institution with the right to issue state diplomas. In early 2006, a private
store of explosive ordnance was found in a farm in eastern Latvia; one civilian
was injured trying to neutralize one of the devices.
Liberia
On 16 September 2005, Liberia joined Amended Protocol II (Landmines) of the
Convention on Conventional Weapons. Liberia has not submitted a Mine Ban Treaty
Article 7 transparency report since October 2004. It has not enacted any
national implementation measures. Liberia has declared no mined areas containing
antipersonnel mines. The little information available indicates a small residual
risk from landmines and a greater risk from unexploded ordnance. Landmine Action
UK conducted a pilot project in early 2006, which revealed at least 14
previously unreported casualties since November 2004, and a need for risk
education and improved reporting of explosive ordnance.
Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of)
In July 2006, FYR Macedonia destroyed all 4,000 mines previously retained for
research and training purposes. For the first time it expressed its view on
issues related to Articles 1 and 2, agreeing with the positions of the ICBL and
many States Parties. In May 2006, FYR Macedonia declared that clearance of the
remaining minefields would start in June 2006. The Protection and Rescue
Directorate became operational in June 2005 for clearance of mines and
unexploded ordnance; in December it presented a plan to clear all mines by
September 2006 and all unexploded ordnance by 2009. There was one casualty, from
unexploded ordnance, during 2005.
Mauritania
New national implementation legislation has been drafted. Mine clearance
resumed in early 2006 after being suspended for the whole of 2005 due to lack of
funds. In 2005, the National Humanitarian Demining Office continued with
marking, surveying and small-scale explosive ordnance disposal; it released
960,000 square meters of suspected hazardous areas and cleared 43 items of
unexploded ordnance. Mauritania and the UN mission in Western Sahara held a
meeting to discuss further regional cooperation in mine action.
Moldova
In May 2006, Moldova for the first time expressed its views on issues related
to Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Mine Ban Treaty, agreeing with the positions of
the ICBL and many States Parties. Moldova announced its intention to destroy in
2006 all 249 mines previously retained for training. Moldova does not consider
that territory under its control is mine-affected, but unconfirmed reports
indicate that antipersonnel mines may remain in some areas. In 2005, there were
14 civilian casualties caused by unexploded ordnance, including four children
killed.
Mozambique
The National Demining Institute’s problems with the recording and
reporting of mine action data persisted in 2005 and early 2006. It claimed that
humanitarian demining operators cleared 11.3 square kilometers of mined land in
2005; however, the operators reported clearance of only 3.9 square kilometers.
Some humanitarian operators continued to re-survey suspected mined areas
identified by the Landmine Impact Survey and further confirmed its deficiencies.
Two deminers were killed and three others injured during demining in 2005. The
Accelerated Demining Program closed for lack of funding. Two of the other three
largest operators, Norwegian People’s Aid and HALO Trust, planned to close
field operations in 2006 and 2007. A total of 57 new mine/UXO casualties in 23
incidents were reported in 2005, almost twice the casualties in 2004 and four
times as many as in 2003. The approved Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper includes
actions in favor of people with disabilities, including mine survivors.
Namibia
The Namibian Defence Force continued to conduct limited survey operations in
Kavango and Western Caprivi regions in 2005 but did not find any mines. The
Namibian Police destroyed five mines and 3,300 unexploded ordnance across the
country during 2005. In March 2006, Namibia stated that it was
“mine-safe,” but that it was not ready to declare itself mine-free
until the completion of ongoing surveys. In 2005, 12 people were injured by
mines and unexploded ordnance.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance
and Socio-Economic Reintegration until December 2005. Nicaragua ratified CCW
Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War on 15 September 2005. A total of 353,562
square meters of land were cleared in 2005, less than in 2004, and 86 percent of
the clearance plan for the year. Nicaragua postponed completion of its National
Humanitarian Demining Program to 2007, due to clearance delays and continuing
discovery of mines not included in military records. In 2005, 92,257 people in
303 high-risk communities received mine risk education; programs were revised in
early 2006 in view of continuing mine/UXO casualties. In 2005, casualties
doubled with 15 new mine/UXO casualties recorded; another six casualties had
occurred by May 2006.
Niger
National implementation legislation, Law 2004-044, was adopted on 8 June
2004.
Panama
Panama’s National Environmental Authority declared in September 2005
that it would clear former US military ranges contaminated by unexploded
ordnance.
Peru
Clearance was conducted of mines and explosive fragments around 375
electricity towers. In April 2006, Peru and Ecuador initiated clearance
operations around the Chira river area, postponed from 2005. Limited mine risk
education was provided by a Peruvian NGO. Reported casualties increased in 2005.
Philippines
The rebel New People’s Army stepped up its use of command-detonated
improvised antivehicle mines, resulting in many more casualties. Landmine
Monitor media analysis found 145 mine/IED casualties reported in 2005, a nearly
300 percent increase on the 47 casualties reported in 2004. The Armed Forces of
the Philippines reported seizures of antipersonnel and antivehicle mines from
the NPA. The Moro National Liberation Front and the Abu Sayyaf Group continued
to plant antivehicle mines in their ongoing battles with the army.
Rwanda
A draft national implementation law has been submitted to the Cabinet of
Ministers. The demining program was activated by the training and equipping of
deminers in early 2006. By May 2006, Rwanda’s demining workforce had
increased by 150 personnel. Mines Awareness Trust deployed three technical
advisors in May 2006 to support the newly trained deminers. In 2005 and 2006,
landmine casualties continued to increase despite incomplete data collection,
reportedly due to economic necessity and a lack of mine risk education.
Senegal
Rebels from an MFDC faction used antipersonnel and antivehicle mines in
Guinea-Bissau in March 2006. In August 2005, Senegal adopted national
implementation legislation for the Mine Ban Treaty. This included authorization
for a national mine action authority and a mine action center. In October 2005,
the UN Development Programme and Handicap International initiated an emergency
landmine impact survey in Casamance; preliminary results indicated that 93
villages are affected by landmines. In 2005, 10 new casualties were recorded, a
decrease from 17 casualties in 2004.
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro began destroying its stockpile of antipersonnel mines
in August 2005 and by March 2006 had destroyed 649,217 mines, almost half of its
stockpile. A new Criminal Code of the Republic of Serbia entered into force on 1
January 2006, which criminalizes antipersonnel mines. In 2005, 963,775 square
meters of mined areas and battle areas were cleared in Serbia. In Montenegro,
the Regional Center for Underwater Demining initiated a general survey of
contamination in Plav and Rozaje municipalities in May 2006. No civilian
casualties were reported during 2005. No funding was provided nationally or
internationally for mine survivor assistance plans proposed annually since 2004.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has not submitted an Article 7 transparency report since
February 2004. It has not enacted any national implementation measures.
Sudan
Sudan cited a stockpile of 14,485 antipersonnel mines, adding 5,000 SPLA
mines to the previous total; it intends to retain 10,000 of these mines for
training purposes. It is continuing to do an inventory of stockpiled mines. On
24 December 2005, a national mine action authority and mine action center were
created, and a South Sudan mine action center. Demining organizations cleared
almost three times as much land in 2005 as in 2004, with similar survey and
clearance capacity. Over 1.3 square kilometers of mined area were cleared. In
2005, some US$61.5 million was estimated spent on mine action (including mine
action support to peacekeeping). MRE activities increased significantly and
expanded to new areas of Sudan; 316,188 people were reached in 2005 with special
emphasis on returnees. There were at least 79 casualties from mines and
unexploded ordnance in 2005, more than in 2004; in 2006 there were at least 29
casualties by 21 May.
Suriname
With the support of the Organization of American States, Suriname cleared the
last 13 antipersonnel mines from its territory between February and April 2005.
Swaziland
The Swaziland Defence Forces informed Landmine Monitor in 2006 that Swaziland
cannot declare with certainty whether the country remains mine-affected. In
March 2006, the Ministry of Defence accepted the offer of international
assistance to assess the mine situation and develop a clearance plan in
compliance with the Mine Ban Treaty deadline.
Tajikistan
State authorities report destroying 80 antipersonnel mines in December 2005
seized during law enforcement operations. Tajikistan consumed 30 mines for
training of deminers in 2005; this was reported using the new expanded Article 7
report format for retained mines. Swiss Foundation for Mine Action demining
teams cleared 129,156 square meters in 2005, a big increase made possible by an
expansion in demining capacity. A mine detection dog center opened in April
2006. Shortfalls in donor support jeopardized plans to achieve higher
productivity in 2006. In May 2006, Tajikistan completed a victim assistance plan
for 2005-2009. Casualties increased for the third consecutive year to 20. From
18 to 30 July 2005, the first camp for 32 child mine survivors was held,
providing mine risk education and survivor assistance.
Tanzania
In May 2006, Tanzania stated it was in the process of adopting national
implementation legislation. It intends to acquire 1,000 additional mines for use
in its project to train mine detection rats.
Thailand
The Thailand Mine Action Center initiated area reduction in 2005 in a bid to
accelerate demining; the area released (5.9 square kilometers) was three times
greater than in 2004. The center proposed to the cabinet that it should convert
from a military organization under the armed forces to become a civilian
organization. In January 2006, this was endorsed at a high-level review of
Thailand’s mine action program; a proposal was submitted to the government
in May. Funding cuts led to the units responsible for most of the demining in
Thailand to lose more than half their workforce in 2006. Mine risk education
increased, with over 333,000 people reached. There were an estimated 43 new mine
casualties in 2005; plans were discussed for nationwide collection of mine
casualty data. A plan for survivor assistance was drafted in December 2005.
Tunisia
Tunisia joined CCW Amended Protocol II on 23 March 2006. As of 15 April 2006,
the army had cleared 90 percent of the Ras Jedir minefield, destroying 3,503
antipersonnel mines and 785 antivehicle mines.
Turkey
Turkey declared a stockpile of 2,979,165 antipersonnel mines, a larger figure
than reported before; for the first time it included 22,788 artillery-delivered
ADAM mines in the total. Turkey reported that in December 2005, the NATO
Maintenance and Supply Agency and a company signed an agreement to establish a
new facility to destroy stockpiled mines. In May 2006, Turkey said that the
victim-activation components of M18 Claymore mines will be destroyed. On 18 July
2006, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party committed to a ban on antipersonnel
mines by signing the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment. There were at least 220 new
landmine/UXO casualties in 2005, a significant increase from 168 in 2004 and 67
in 2003. A total of 2,171 mines were cleared from 300,000 square meters of land
in 2005. The process of inviting national and international companies to tender
for clearance of mined areas, in return for their free use of the land, was
contested in parliament.
Uganda
Ugandan forces have continued to seize landmines from the Lord’s
Resistance Army. There have been no confirmed reports of use of antipersonnel
mines in 2005 or early 2006. Uganda submitted two Article 7 transparency reports
in 2005. The National Steering Committee for Mine Action met for the first time
in January 2006; in February it began drafting legislation in support of mine
action. In April 2006, the Uganda Mine Action Centre opened; almost 60 personnel
from the army and police were seconded to it. By May 2006, mine action needs
assessments were ongoing in two districts and technical survey continued in
three other districts. In 2005, 40 new mine/UXO casualties were recorded.
Casualties continued to be reported in 2006, with at least 22 by May.
Ukraine
Ukraine deposited its ratification on 27 December 2005 and the Mine Ban
Treaty entered into force on 1 June 2006. In February 2006, the European
Commission awarded a €5.9 million contract for the destruction of
Ukraine’s 5.95 million PFM-type mines. An EC €1 million tender for
the destruction of an additional recently identified 716,746 non-PFM
antipersonnel mines was cancelled. The UN conducted an interagency assessment in
December 2005; the report had not been completed as of 1 June 2006. Ukraine
approved a three-year program to dispose of ammunition at the Novobohdanovka
military base. Mine risk education was initiated in 2005 on a regional basis.
There were 16 new casualties from unexploded ordnance in 2005, a decrease from
2004.
United Kingdom
Although there are no recorded mined areas in mainland UK, it has treaty
obligations in respect of any mined areas under its jurisdiction or control
elsewhere. More than seven years since becoming a State Party, the UK has not
initiated clearance of mined areas on the Falkland Islands. The UK and Argentina
met five times in the reporting period to discuss implementation of a
feasibility study, which was expected to take place between November 2006 and
March 2007.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 16 September 2005 and the treaty
entered into force on 1 March 2006.
Venezuela
In July 2005, Venezuela provided for the first time a timetable for clearance
of the antipersonnel mines laid around its six naval posts. In May 2006,
Venezuela declared that it would not initiate clearance operations before 2007
because Navy combat engineers needed demining equipment and additional training.
Yemen
Yemen elaborated its views on key matters of interpretation and
implementation related to Articles 1 and 2 of the Mine Ban Treaty, taking strong
positions mirroring those of the ICBL and many other States Parties. A UN
monitoring group reported the transfer of unspecified types of mines by Yemen to
the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia in July 2005. Area reduction
through technical survey released more than 100 square kilometers of
mine-affected and suspected land in 2005. Clearance operations released another
1.8 square kilometers. One deminer was killed during clearance operations. In
March 2006, a socioeconomic and livelihood study was started to assess the
socioeconomic returns from mine clearance. Mine risk education reached 191,262
people in 92 communities during 2005. Casualties doubled in 2005, compared to
2004. Several survivor assistance and disability organizations withdrew from
Yemen in 2005-2006, and national organizations faced funding difficulties.
Zambia
In 2005, the Zambia Mine Action Centre was restructured, which limited its
operations. A three-year strategy was developed with the goal of clearing mines
and unexploded ordnance from 41 dangerous areas by 2007. Lack of progress led to
revision of the program targets and, in May 2006, Zambia drafted the Mine Action
Completion Plan, which aimed to meet its 2011 Article 5 deadline. In March 2006,
Zambia announced free healthcare for people living in rural areas, including
mine survivors, abolishing fees introduced in the early 1990s.
Zimbabwe
There were two isolated instances of farmers using antipersonnel mines to
protect crops. Clearance of the Victoria Falls-Mlibizi minefield was completed
in October 2005. A total of 25,959 mines were destroyed in the minefield,
including 6,959 in 2005. In May 2006, Zimbabwe reported that only half of its
minefields had been cleared, leaving a significant challenge in meeting the 1
March 2009 treaty deadline. Mine risk education in mine-affected areas resumed
in 2006. In 2005, 14 new casualties including seven children were recorded.
Seven Zimbabweans were also involved in landmine accidents in Afghanistan and
Taiwan in 2005.
Signatories
Indonesia
In October 2005, the President of Indonesia formally gave his approval to
start the ratification process for the Mine Ban Treaty. A draft ratification law
is under review.
Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands voted in favor of the annual UN General Assembly
resolution promoting the Mine Ban Treaty, after abstaining in earlier years.
Poland
Documents for Poland’s ratification of the Mine Ban Treaty have been
undergoing interministerial consultations. Poland declared a stockpile of
984,690 antipersonnel mines at the end of 2005; it dismantled 12,990 expired
stockpiled mines in 2005. In 2005, Polish military teams carried out 7,698
responses to mines and explosive remnants of war, clearing 6,138 antipersonnel
and antivehicle mines and 39,160 explosive remnants. In addition, the police
disposed of 281 grenades, 828 fuzes and detonators, 1,642 items of unexploded
ordnance and 26,029 pieces of ammunition.
Non-Signatories
Armenia
The UN reported in 2005 that Armenian authorities have decided to submit to
the UN Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, the annual transparency reports
required by the Mine Ban Treaty and CCW Amended Protocol II. Armenia completed a
landmine impact survey, and teams from the Ministry of Defense demined 125,000
square meters of land. UNICEF conducted trainings in mine risk education in
April 2006, and started to develop a mine risk education strategy. In 2005, five
people were injured by mines and unexploded ordnance, a decrease from the 15
casualties reported in 2004.
Azerbaijan
For the first time, Azerbaijan voted in favor of the annual UN General
Assembly resolution calling for universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty.
Azerbaijan said it may provide a voluntary Mine Ban Treaty Article 7
transparency report. In 2005, Azerbaijan demined almost seven square kilometers
of land, similar to productivity in 2004. During the first quarter of 2006,
almost 2.3 square kilometers were demined. Reported casualties increased in 2005
from 32 to 59 owing to a single UXO incident that killed three people and
injured 23 others. Two survivor assistance projects began in April-June 2006.
Pensions for war-disabled people were increased in April 2006.
Burma (Myanmar)
Both the military junta and non-state armed groups have continued to use
antipersonnel mines extensively. The Myanmar Army has obtained, and is using an
increasing number of antipersonnel mines of the United States M-14 design;
manufacture and source of these non-detectable mines—whether foreign or
domestic—is unknown. In November 2005, Military Heavy Industries
reportedly began recruiting technicians for the production of the next
generation of mines and other munitions. The non-state armed group, United Wa
State Army, is allegedly producing PMN-type antipersonnel mines at an arms
factory formerly belonging to the Burma Communist Party. In October 2005, the
military junta made its first public statement on a landmine ban since 1999.
There were at least 231 new mine casualties in 2005. Médecins Sans
Frontières (MSF)-France closed its medical assistance program and
withdrew from Burma, due to restrictions imposed by the authorities.
China
In December 2005, China voted for the first time in favor of the annual UN
General Assembly resolution calling for universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty.
From the late 1990s to 2005, China destroyed nearly
2.2 million stockpiled antipersonnel mines that had either expired or did not
comply with CCW Amended Protocol II. China launched a new project to clear
landmines from its border with Vietnam, and conducted mine risk education in
nearby villages. It provided a three-month training course in Thailand, and sent
a demining battalion to Lebanon in April 2006 to support the UN. One mine
casualty was reported.
Egypt
The National Council for Human Rights organized a landmine conference in
December 2005, the first major landmine event to be held in Cairo since April
2000. The conference recommended that Egypt reconsider its stance on the Mine
Ban Treaty and former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali called on Egypt
to accede. The ICBL’s Diplomatic Advisor met with the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and senior defense officials; the Foreign Minister said that Egypt was
no longer insistent on the legal question of user responsibility for mine
clearance. There were reports of use of landmines by militants in 2005. Media
reported that in April 2006, the Ministry of International Cooperation and the
UN Development Programme would initiate a demining project; this has not been
confirmed. In 2005, there were at least 16 new casualties, and by the end of
June 2006, a further 15 casualties were recorded.
Finland
At the Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Finland reiterated its commitment to
accede to the Mine Ban Treaty by 2012 and destroy all stockpiled antipersonnel
mines by 2016.
Georgia
At the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in May 2006, Georgia said
that its position on non-accession to the Mine Ban Treaty was being
reconsidered. It re-stated its commitment not to use, produce, import or export
antipersonnel mines. Georgia hosted a workshop on confidence-building and
regional cooperation through mine action in Tbilisi in October 2005, the first
government-sponsored international landmine event in Georgia. There were reports
that Georgian combat engineers cleared mines in South Ossetia in 2005. At least
31 new casualties were reported in 2005, a decrease from 2004.
India
Non-state armed groups have continued to use mines and improvised explosive
devices in many parts of India. India participated as an observer in all three
major Mine Ban Treaty meetings in the reporting period. The government of Canada
undertook the first high-level advocacy mission to India in March 2006. India
undertook demining to allow delivery of relief across the Line of Control to
Pakistani earthquake victims. There were at least 336 casualties from mines and
improvised explosive devices in 2005, and 271 from January to May 2006.
Iran
In 2005, UNDP revised its proposal for assistance to mine action, and awaited
response from Iran’s mine action center as of May 2006. In January 2006,
the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining signed an agreement to
provide mine action training. Iran and Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding
in December 2005 to clear landmines from their border. A mine risk education
committee was formed in December 2005, which developed a strategy and action
plan. At least 109 new mine/UXO casualties were recorded in 2005.
Iraq
Iraqi officials have continued to express strong interest in joining the Mine
Ban Treaty. Opposition forces have continued to use improvised explosive devices
in great numbers, as well as antivehicle mines. Coalition forces have discovered
many caches of antipersonnel mines. Reduced international funding for Iraq (down
by half from 2004) plus deteriorating security significantly hindered mine
action in all but the northern regions; some contracts and operations ended
early. The National Mine Action Authority reported a sharp drop in mine
clearance in 2005. The authority’s second director general in two years
was replaced in October 2005. The Iraq Landmine Impact Survey completed
surveying 13 of Iraq’s 18 governorates in April 2006, but suspended survey
in Tikrit and Diyala due to lack of security. As of May 2006, the survey had
recorded 565 casualties in two years (over 20 percent were children) and 7,631
less recent casualties. In 2005, there were at least 358 casualties, an increase
from 2004, and likely an underestimate as there is no effective casualty
surveillance in Iraq.
Israel
The Israel Defense Force destroyed 15,510 outdated stockpiled mines in 2005.
Israel extended its moratorium on the export of antipersonnel mines for three
years in July 2005. Clearance operations were conducted in the northern part of
the Jordan Valley in 2005, following the displacement of mines as a result of
flooding.
Kazakhstan
An official told Landmine Monitor that Kazakhstan is preparing to destroy its
stockpile of antipersonnel mines, most of which are expired.
Republic of Korea
South Korea reported a stockpile of 407,800 antipersonnel mines, instead of
the two million it indicated previously. South Korea produced Claymore-type
mines for the first time since 2000. It exported Claymore mines to New Zealand
in December 2005. South Korean troops started clearance of three minefields in
the Civilian Control Zone and seven military bases in the south. In 2005, there
were at least 10 new landmine casualties.
Kuwait
The Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended accession
to the Mine Ban Treaty, and a draft accession law was submitted to the National
Assembly. Kuwait voted in favor of the annual pro-ban UN General Assembly
resolution for the first time since 1998. In 2005, eight new casualties caused
by mines and unexploded ordnance were reported, a significant decrease from the
20 casualties reported in 2004. From January to May 2006, there were seven new
casualties; all were foreign nationals.
Kyrgyzstan
A project for survey and marking of mined areas and for mine risk education
was started by Danish Demining Group in partnership with Border Guards and local
NGOs.
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
In July 2005, Laos confirmed its intention to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty
in the future. Donor concerns over the institutional structure led to a drop in
financial support in 2005; the government appointed the National Regulatory
Authority’s first director in December. UXO Lao reported a sharp increase
in productivity in 2005, demining 15.7 square kilometers of land. Two demining
organizations received authorization for clearance operations in 2005 and one
more in early 2006. There were 164 new casualties in 91 incidents (54 percent
were children), fewer than reported than in 2004. Two studies were conducted, on
the impact of the scrap metal trade on casualties from unexploded ordnance, and
on victim assistance.
Lebanon
For the first time, Lebanon voted in favor of the annual pro-Mine Ban Treaty
UN General Assembly resolution in the First Committee; it was absent from the
final vote. An internal review process that could lead to accession was
underway. Lebanon was considering submission of a voluntary Mine Ban Treaty
Article 7 transparency report. The ICBL undertook a special advocacy mission to
Lebanon in June 2006. Two square kilometers of mine-affected land was cleared in
2005, and a further 3.9 square kilometers of mined and mine-suspected land was
released through survey. The National Demining Office drafted a mine action
policy giving itself responsibility for management of the mine action program
and involving civilian institutions in priority-setting. A nationwide technical
survey started in 2005; 9.8 square kilometers of suspected area had been
surveyed by May 2006, resulting in the cancellation of 7.2 square kilometers as
not contaminated. Mine risk education was delayed by the security situation, but
resumed in late 2005. There were 22 new casualties in 2005, a significant
increase from 2004.
Mongolia
Mongolia has initiated its step-by-step approach to accede to the Mine Ban
Treaty in 2008. Amendments to the Law on State Secrets are being prepared in
order to exclude landmines from the secrecy list and place details regarding the
number of stockpiled antipersonnel mines in the public domain. Army engineers
disposed of more than 1,000 items of explosive ordnance in 2005. One civilian
was reported injured by unexploded ordnance in 2005.
Morocco
Morocco voted in favor of the annual UN General Assembly resolution
supporting the Mine Ban Treaty for the second consecutive year. It announced at
the Sixth Meeting of States Parties its intent to submit a voluntary Article 7
transparency report. Between April 2005 and April 2006, 289 mines and items of
unexploded ordnance were marked and 7,074 items of explosive ordnance, mostly
Polisario’s stockpiled antipersonnel mines, were destroyed. In 2005, there
were at least nine new casualties.
Nepal
On 26 May 2006, the government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal
(Maoist) agreed to a bilateral cease-fire and a Code of Conduct that includes
non-use of landmines. Prior to the cease-fire, both sides continued to use
landmines and/or improvised explosive devices. The UK suspended training for the
army’s explosive ordnance disposal unit in February 2005, but resumed in
August 2005 and delivered new equipment. Casualties from all kinds of explosive
devices appeared to be lower in 2005 than 2004; efforts were made by NGOs to
create a nationwide casualty data collection system. The majority of casualties
were children. Mine/explosives risk education gathered pace, involving many
local and international organizations.
In May 2006, Palau expressed its hope to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty by the
Seventh Meeting of States Parties in September 2006. Micronesia completed a
review of the Mine Ban Treaty and was drafting accession legislation to submit
to congress. In December 2005, Micronesia for the first time voted in favor of
the annual UN General Assembly resolution calling for universalization of the
Mine Ban Treaty.
Pakistan
Non-state armed groups used antipersonnel mines, antivehicle mines and
improvised explosive devices extensively in Baluchistan province, and to a
lesser extent in Waziristan and other areas of Pakistan. Mine risk education was
carried out by NGOs and to some extent by Pakistani authorities in the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas and in Pakistani Kashmir; the British NGOs Islamic
Relief and Response International started new mine risk education projects in
2005-2006 in Pakistani Kashmir. In 2005, there were at least 214 casualties from
mines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices, an increase from
195 in 2004. In 2006, casualty rates continued to increase, with at least 263
casualties as of 14 May.
Russian Federation
Russian officials confirmed to Landmine Monitor in June 2006 that Russian
forces continued to use antipersonnel mines in Chechnya. CCW Amended Protocol II
entered into force for Russia on 2 September 2005. Clearance teams undertook
over 300 tasks in 2005 to deal with explosive remnants from World War II,
destroying 40,000 explosive items, including 10,500 mines. Landmine Monitor
identified 305 new casualties in at least 82 incidents in 2005.
Somalia
The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) reiterated its intention to join
the Mine Ban Treaty. There apparently has been ongoing use of antipersonnel
mines by various factions in different parts of the country. In May 2006, the UN
arms embargo monitoring group reported that the government of Eritrea had
delivered 1,000 antipersonnel mines to militant fundamentalists in Somalia. In
October 2005, the monitoring group reported that members of the TFG, including
its president, and an opponent of the TFG had been involved in weapons transfers
that included unspecified types of landmines. The monitoring group also stated
that the governments of Ethiopia and Yemen had provided unspecified types of
mines to factions in Somalia. The Somali region of Puntland completed a Landmine
Impact Survey of three regions in 2005. The survey found 35 mine-impacted
communities, equivalent to an estimated 6 percent of the communities of the
three regions. At least 276 new mine/UXO casualties were recorded in 2005, a
significant increase over the previous year. Police explosive ordnance disposal
teams in Puntland reported the destruction of more than 3,000 items of
unexploded ordnance between July 2004 and the end of 2005. Puntland Mine Action
Center staff, jointly with EOD personnel, started providing mine risk education.
Sri Lanka
Since December 2005, suspected LTTE use of command-detonated Claymore mines
has escalated greatly, and the Army has in a few instances alleged use of
antipersonnel mines by the rebels. Eleven operators demined 19.5 million square
meters of land in 2005, more than five times as much as in 2004, as a result of
increased manual and mechanical clearance capacity and increased area reduction.
However, renewed hostilities in early 2006 severely constrained demining
operations in contested areas, resulting in much reduced clearance. Mine risk
education expanded, reaching more than 630,000 people in 2005; 80 percent of
schoolteachers in the mine-affected provinces have been trained in mine risk
education. There were 38 new landmine/UXO casualties in 2005, significantly
fewer than the 56 casualties in 2004.
Syria
In April 2006 the Syrian Army completed clearance operations in Hanoot Saida
village in southern Golan, and in Hameedia village north of Quneitra city; 1,564
antivehicle mines were cleared and destroyed. UN forces cleared and destroyed
six antipersonnel mines, 177 antivehicle mines and 34 items of unexploded
ordnance in 2005. In 2005, there was a significant increase in reported
casualties from mines and UXO over 2004 and 2003; there were at least 11 new
casualties in 2005 and nine from 1 January to 22 May 2006. Following a mine
incident on the Golan Heights in January 2006 in which five children were
injured, the governmental committee, formed in 2004 to promote mine risk
education in the affected border areas, was re-energized and activities were
undertaken in schools.
United States of America
The US government spent over $95 million in fiscal year 2005 on humanitarian
mine action programs, compared to over $109 million in fiscal year 2004, the
biggest change being a significant decrease in special funding being allocated
to mine action in Iraq. The Pentagon requested $1.3 billion for research on and
production of two new landmine systems—Spider and Intelligent Munitions
System—between fiscal years 2005 and 2011; these systems appear
incompatible with the Mine Ban Treaty. Congress ordered a Pentagon study of the
possible indiscriminate effects of Spider, thereby deferring the
Pentagon’s decision expected in December 2005 on whether to produce
Spider.
Uzbekistan
In October 2005 Uzbekistan reported it had cleared one fifth of its border
with Tajikistan and several areas around Uzbek enclaves in Kyrgyzstan.
Vietnam
During the visit of a Canadian government delegation in November 2005 to
promote the Mine Ban Treaty, officials from both the defense and foreign
ministries insisted that Vietnam no longer produces antipersonnel mines. Several
officials indicated that Vietnam will join the treaty at some point and stressed
that it already respects the spirit of the treaty by not producing, selling or
using antipersonnel mines. The pilot phase of the UXO and Landmine Impact
Assessment and Technical Survey concluded in May 2005. Two NGOs ceased working
in Vietnam at the end of 2005. UNICEF received five-year funding for mine action
focusing on mine risk education and advocacy. There were at least 112 new
casualties in 2005.
Other
Abkhazia
The amount of land cleared and reduced by HALO Trust in 2005—more than
2.5 square kilometers— was a record for the organization’s program
in Abkhazia. During 2005, HALO declared the Gali region and the Gumista river
valley near Sukhum mine impact-free. In 2005, 15 new mine/UXO casualties were
reported, a significant increase from 2004 (six casualties).
Chechnya
In June 2006, Russian officials confirmed that Russian forces continued to
use antipersonnel mines in Chechnya. Chechen forces have continued to use
improvised explosive devices extensively. Clearance teams cleared 5,000 items of
explosive ordnance in Chechnya and Ingushetia, including 32 landmines cleared
from railway lines. National NGOs supported by UNICEF, ICRC and Danish Demining
Group/ Danish Refugee Council provided mine risk education in Chechnya and to
displaced people in the northern Caucasus. UNICEF recorded 24 new landmine/UXO
casualties, continuing the reduction in casualties in recent years. To make
casualty data more accurate, changes were made to the data collection and
recording system. UNICEF conducted the first training on trauma counselling for
22 child psychologists from Chechnya. ICRC secured treatment for Chechen
refugees in Azerbaijan.
Kosovo
In 2005, demining operations cleared more than 4.3 square kilometers of land,
a 10 percent increase on productivity in 2004, destroying 719 antipersonnel
mines, 30 antivehicle mines, 977 cluster bomblets and 1,378 other items of UXO.
In December 2005, Handicap International ended its demining activities in Kosovo
after six years of operations. By the end of 2005, 15 dangerous areas still
required clearance; of these, three contained a mine threat and the remaining 12
were contaminated with cluster bomblets. There were also 53 areas requiring a
technical survey and possibly also clearance. At least one of the demining
operators is convinced that this understates the residual contamination, and
planned an assessment mission for mid-July 2006 to define the remaining threat
from cluster munitions and landmines. In 2005, 11 new casualties were recorded,
a decrease from 2004; all were caused by cluster bomblets or other unexploded
ordnance, and most were the result of tampering.
Nagorno-Karabakh
In 2005, HALO demined more than 7.9 square kilometers of mined area by
clearance and survey, and a further 13 square kilometers of land by battle area
clearance. HALO also provided mine risk education to about 7,700 people. There
were significantly fewer casualties reported than in 2004 when casualty rates
peaked.
Palestine
There were reports of Palestinian use of antivehicle mines in June and July
2006 during Israeli military action in Gaza. A UN mine action assessment in
September 2005 criticized the Palestinian Authority for its lack of an effective
response to the threat from landmines, explosive remnants of war and improvised
explosive devices, which increased when Israeli settlers and military withdrew
from the Gaza Strip in 2005. There were 46 people killed and 317 people injured
in 187 incidents in 2005, an increase from 2004. In early 2006, efforts were
made to revitalize the National Mine Action Committee. Palestinian police
explosive ordnance disposal teams conducted 1,162 explosive ordnance disposal
tasks in 2005, compared to 939 in 2004.
Somaliland
In 2005, the two international demining NGOs Danish Demining Group and HALO
Trust demined more than 18 square kilometers of land, the great majority of
which was battle area clearance by HALO; 602 antipersonnel mines, 99 antivehicle
mines, over 20,000 explosive remnants of war and large quantities of ammunition
were destroyed. In March 2006, Danish Demining Group ceased all mine clearance
in Somaliland. In 2005, 93 new landmine/UXO casualties were recorded; two-thirds
were children and almost one-third were female; casualties occurred in all six
regions. Mine risk education increased, reaching at least 30,000 beneficiaries
from January 2005 to June 2006.
Taiwan
In June 2006, Taiwan enacted legislation that bans production and trade of
antipersonnel mines, but not stockpiling and use, and requires clearance of
mined areas within seven years. In September 2005, the President, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, and Vice President of the Legislative Yuan all signed
statements committing to a ban on antipersonnel mines and demining. A contract
awarded to MineTech International to clear mines on Kinmen Island was suspended
after an explosion in April 2005 in which two deminers were killed and a third
injured. A legislator said the Ministry of National Defense cancelled funding
for demining in 2006 after the government proposed a major purchase of arms.
Officials said demining would resume in 2007 and that the Ministry had proposed
a NTD4.2 billion (US$131 million) budget to clear all remaining minefields after
2009.
Western Sahara
In November 2005, the Polisario Front signed the Geneva Call Deed of
Commitment renouncing antipersonnel mines. Polisario destroyed over 3,000 of its
stockpiled mines in February 2006. Between April 2005 and April 2006, the UN
mission in Western Sahara discovered and marked 289 mines and unexploded
ordnance, and monitored the destruction of 7,074 items of explosive ordnance,
mostly stockpiled antipersonnel mines. Landmine Action UK started an explosive
ordnance disposal and technical survey project in mid-2006. Antipersonnel mines
caused at least two casualties in 2005, and there were at least eight mine
casualties from January to May 2006.
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