Digital Commons Network^™

Ddasaccident710, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

According to investigation report and the observation of accident point, the accident occurred in un-cleared area within the minefield. The deminer was returning back from the rest area to resume the work in his clearance lane, he entered into the minefield, stepped on PMN2 anti-personnel mine and accident happened. The worksite was well prepared and the area was clearly marked in accordance to the [Demining group] SOPs. The deminer did not consider and use the clear access lane to proceed to his working area while he was well aware about the cleared/un-cleared parts of the minefield. He was not stopped …

Ddasaccident719, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 22 December 2010 team arrived to the area on 06:30 and started operation on 07:00 working for 45 minutes and then 15 minutes break, the second round started on 08:00 for the same working and breaking period. The third round started on 09:00, [the Victim] worked in his clearance lane using metal detector and then stopped on 09:25 wanted to mark his clearance lane. He picked up marking material/equipment attempted to mark his clearance lane. On the way back he slipped out from his cleared lane to un-clear area, his right foot came on a mine and the accident …

Ddasaccident724, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 21 Dec 2011, the deminer [the Victim] started his work as usual in the assigned task for him to continue the clearance of the Mine Line (SML) which was laid as a cluster with one AT mine (M19) guarded by 3 APs M35 and after recovering and defusing one AT (19) and 2 APs (M35 / no defusing), the deminer started his work for the second period at 8:45 and he reported one signal to the team leader. The team leader left him to proceed with the proper procedures to recover and defuse the mine and at 8:55 hrs …

Ddasaccident740, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On the 13th Dec 2010 at 10:37, the deminer [Victim No.1] was operating in his clearance lane excavating a detected signal, his prodder touched on a subsurface tripwire of POMZ mine which caused it to explode. According to the investigation report the signal was not pinpointed correctly and the de-miner has used pick in contrary to set procedure, during the excavation, he pulled the subsurface tripwire connected with POMZ mine. The accident resulted in superficial injuries to deminer’s hands, left thigh and left side of abdomen.

Ddasaccident801, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The deminer was busy with clearance in M/F No3, Lane No1 and had an indication from his F3 mine detector. He then carried out the prodder drill investigating the signal and the mine detonated. It is unclear at present why the No4 A/P mine detonated. It appears that the mine was slightly outside the 10cm overlap of the basestick but this could not be confirmed due to the movement of the marking rocks and base stick when the blast occurred.

Ddasaccident726, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The demolition team of [Demining group] arranged the smoke grenades in demolition pit in their CDS on 07:00 and then started Ordnance Disposal Operation, disposing of smoke grenades using electric demolition procedures. On 07:33 they conducted first fire by the exploder machine from their firing point. They waited for almost 18 minutes and then Technical Advisor started conducting Electric Misfire Procedures, he to correct misfire. On 08:10 the accident occurred and TA was killed immediately after accident.made manual approach

The First Meeting Of States Parties To The Convention On Cluster Munitions (2010), Ccm

Global CWD Repository

The First Meeting of States Parties (1MSP) took place in Vientiane, Lao PDR, from 9 to 12 November 2010 and gathered some 1,200 delegates from 40 State Parties, 47 signatory States, 34 observer States and 20 international organizations (see list below).

The meeting was opened by Ambassador Gerard Corr of Ireland, Chairperson of the preparatory meeting for the 1MSP. During the first plenary meeting, the meeting confirmed by acclamation Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, as President of the 1MSP to the CCM.

Ddasaccident713, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

TYRE, Lebanon — A sapper was killed and at least four others were wounded on Monday when a cluster bomb exploded as their team cleared a mine-infested field in southern Lebanon, a security source said.

Ddasaccident714, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

I remember on the 25th of Oct. 2010 on the first part of work I cleared 3 AP mines from the first cluster as all the AT mines are cleared from the belt, then I headed to the next cluster following the team leader orders and started removing a 12 o’clock mine, when I was near its suggested location after making visual check and cleared the grass around it using the light rake I were no injuries thanks god, then the team leader came with deminer {name removed] and checked me and evacuated me walking to the ambulance which was …

Ddasaccident591, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On the 15th of October 2010 a demining accident occurred on site DA-SS-2091 in the Kapoeta locality of Eastern Equatoria where the international TFM sustained fatal injuries due to an uncontrolled detonation which occurred whilst his excavating/preparing a No4 AP mine for demolitions in situ. After initial medical care, the seriously injured TFM later succumbed to his wounds while on the Kapoeta airstrip under the attention of medical personnel awaiting air evacuation to more suitable medical facilities.

Hero Profile: Aki Ra, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Khmer Rouge made Aki Ra a soldier when he was still a child. Now, close to 30 years later, he can be found working tirelessly to remove landmines and unexploded ordnance in Siem Reap, Cambodia—some planted by his own hands. As a result of his work, the Cambodia Landmine Relief Museum Facility houses thousands of detonated landmines and UXO, and provides a home for orphaned landmine victims. Aki Ra has received international recognition for his humanitarian efforts, including his recent selection as a Top 10 candidate for the CNN Hero of the Year award.

The Mine Action Programme Of Afghanistan, Mohammed Haider Reza

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan, coordinated by the Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan, faces a unique set of challenges in combating the national mine/explosive-remnants-of-war contamination problem. The ongoing war and changing political climate force the country’s mine-action plan to adapt to meet new demands as they emerge. The following summary of MAPA’s activities highlights these challenges and their implications for the continued humanitarian effort in Afghanistan.

Mine-Action Funding: Gichd Survey Of Donor Countries, Jean Devlin, Sharmala Naidoo

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A recent survey of donors conducted by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining found that, while short-term donor support remains strong, levels of funding may decrease and become more unpredictable over the coming years.

The Terter Regional Vocational Training Center, Nick Nwolisa

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Recently, International Eurasia Press Fund helped to form the Terter Regional Vocational Training Center to provide computer, business and vocational training for mine victims and their family members. The victims are also given medical and legal help by the Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association. The VTC and the AMVA both work to help war victims reintegrate into society.

The Bridge From Hold To Build, Yori Escalante

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In Afghanistan, the United States and United Nations are developing a new approach to community-based demining by funding local nongovernmental organizations. The use of these Afghan NGOs has not only allowed clearance to begin more quickly and continue more effectively, but has also helped the local population along the path to recovery and supported overall counterinsurgency efforts.

Integrating Erw Programs: The Case For Consolidating Cwd Activities, Mark Adams

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For years, the mine-action community has been revising its definition of explosive remnants of war. Viewing unexploded ordnance, landmines, ammunition stockpiles, and small arms/light weapons as individual threats, the mine-action community has created distinct budgets, programs and policies to address each of them. What were beginning to realize, however, is that a more integrated approach allows for greater progress in reducing the ERW threat.

A Survivor’S Successful Story: Sadafmo, Reykhan Muminova

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As one of more than 800 Tajik landmine victims, Rahmatova Sadafmo is a 32-year-old woman living in the small mountainous village of Dashtijum on the Tajik-Afghan border. Despite losing her leg in a tragic landmine accident, Sadafmo is able to support herself and her young son with assistance from the Tajikistan Mine Action Centre. She helps other landmine victims and looks toward her future with hope and enthusiasm.

Bosnia And Herzegovina Demining 15 Years Later, Zoran Grujic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article outlines the demining steps taken by the United Nations and national authorities following Bosnia and Herzegovina’s war in the 1990s. The author further explores the shortcomings and successes of the demining projects and laws, with attention to preparations for the state’s next decade of mine action.

Mine-Action Program In Southern Sudan, Margaret M. Mathiang

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Following more than two decades of civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan, much of Southern Sudan has been left contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war. As a result, the Southern Sudan Demining Authority, along with the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Mine Action Office and other organizations, have been diligently working toward clearing 80 percent of the mines in Southern Sudan by 2011.

Mine-Action Activities In Western Sahara, Ginevra Cucinotta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 2007, the United Nations Mine Action Service has been implementing mine-action activities in Western Sahara. Although the parties to the conflict generally abide by a 1991 ceasefire, the expansive territory remains contaminated by an unknown quantity of mines and explosive remnants of war. The Mine Action Coordination Centre has provided technical coordination and quality assurance and plans to expand its mine-action operations.

Mine Action In North Sudan, Khalid Ibrahim Hamed

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

North Sudan’s National Mine Action Centre is making great strides toward clearing all known mined areas in Sudan’s northern regions by April 2014. In the following article, the author, a Quality Assurance Officer for NMAC, explores NMAC’s work, future plans, and how it has linked mine action to development and recovery in North Sudan.

Strengthening The Demining Sector Response To Hiv/Aids In Sub-Saharan Africa, Martin Chitsama

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In this article, the author explores how HIV/AIDS affects deminers in the African areas where the disease is most prevalent. He considers how deminers’ lifestyles make them especially susceptible to HIV/AIDS and suggests mobile HIV/AIDS programs can effectively combat this growing threat.

Falkland Islands Demining Pilot Project: Completion Of Phase 1, Robin Swanson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United Kingdom has started to remove anti-personnel mines from the Falkland/Malvinas Islands in order to meet its obligations under Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention. A pilot phase was completed in June 2010 to clear four suspected hazardous areas—a critical first step to inform future projects following the conclusion of the Joint U.K.-Argentine Feasibility Study.

Organization Profile: Regional Centre On Small Arms And Light Weapons, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article examines the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons, which was created in March 2000. Since its inception, RECSA has provided its member states with support in the creation of National Focal Points on small-arms control and management. With its help, seven of RECSA’s member states have developed National Action Plans with goals including SA/LW marking, weapons disposal, and SA/LW education/awareness. Two additional countries are expected to have Action Plans in place in 2011.

Profile: “Remnants Of A War,” Directed By Jawad Metni, Documentary Review

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

During the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah War, Israeli forces dropped more than four million cluster munitions on Southern Lebanon. By conservative estimates, these bombs fail to detonate 30 percent of the time. This rate, when coupled with a 2009 stall in the funding process, has left more than 12 million square meters (2,965 acres) of land threatening the safety and lives of local residents. Responding to this danger, Director Jawad Metni uses his film,“Remnants of a War,” to document the trained, local deminers of Southern Lebanon as they diligently work to remove the remaining munitions more than three years after the …

In Remembrance: Stephen “Darby” Allan, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Stephen “Darby” Allan, a Technical Field Manager with Mines Advisory Group, died on 15 October 2010, following an explosion in which he was critically injured. The explosion took place around noon as Darby was doing mine-clearance work at a site near Kapoeta, in southern Sudan. He died a few hours later. Darby is survived by his wife Karen and his children, Sarah and David.

The Effect Of Reinforcement Rate Variations On Hits And False Alarms In Remote Explosive Scent Tracing With Dogs, Rebecca Sargisson, Ian Mclean

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Detection animals offer untapped potential in terms of locating landmines and explosive ordnance in the field and in the laboratory. In this study, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining investigated the effect of low, medium, and high levels of reward on the performance of six dogs searching filters for explosive odor.

Itep Evaluation Of Metal Detectors And Dual-Sensor Detectors, Kazunori Takahashi, Dieter Gulle

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since its development in the early 1970s, scientists from an array of disciplines have found reason to utilize ground-penetrating radar to create radar images of the subsurface. The following article examines how GPR use in combination with standard metal detectors could aid workers in the field of demining.

Destruction Of Cluster Munitions In Moldova, Colin King

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For some countries affected by cluster munitions, the obligations to demilitarize that accompany ratification of the Convention on Cluster Munitions may appear daunting. In 2009, however, Norwegian People’s Aid undertook a pilot project in Moldova to find a cheaper, more efficient alternative-disposal method. They discovered that not only can destruction of cluster munitions be done more effectively, but also that by using locally administered programs, international organizations can promote capacity building and increased employment while also bolstering national pride and commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Albania Makes Progress In Demilitarization, Matt Goodyear

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With the goal of destroying all excess munitions by 2013, the Albanian government is working to eliminate stockpiles of excess military munitions. Following a 2008 deadly explosion at a munitions dismantling factory, the government established safer mandates and successfully destroyed thousands of tons of munitions.