Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Ddasaccident344, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

[Victim No.2] and [Victim No.1] marked the place with a red-top picket 1.2m high (to be found later in the vicinity of the accident spot) and asked [the Local witness] to help them identify the mine. [The Local witness] refused and went to [RS MAC Ops Officer No.2], who handled VALLON, trying to locate where other mines are. 2-3 minutes after he left the site of located mine, there was an explosion at the crossing of trenches.

Ddasaccident308, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The victim was clearing away dirt from two detector readings. At about 10:05, during the transfer of spoil from the excavations to a bucket behind him, the victim dropped soil from the trowel. The soil landed in a non-cleared area and detonated a Type-72 anti-personnel blast mine.

Ddasaccident354, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The injured deminer was overzealous in the use of his hand prodding drills and procedures, because he might have thought that the VS-50 mine did not contain any detonators the same as the majority of other VS-50 mines found in this minefield. I conclude that the injured deminer was kneeling right over the mine when the mine exploded or he failed to wear his protective equipment, especially his helmet and visor, correctly as per Northern Iraq Standard Operating Procedures.

Ddasaccident314, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 7th June 2000 the victim completed 5m of clearance which were checked by the Team Supervisor. The victim then went on to clear a further 1.3m before indicating that he had located a mine. The mine was lying on its side 30cm from the leg of the tower. The Team Supervisor examined the mine before tasking the Trainee Supervisor to move the mine to the demolition pit, during the 12:50-13:00 break period. The Team Supervisor observed the victim restarting excavation then began walking away from the tower. When the Team Supervisor was 17m away, an unplanned explosion occurred.

Ddasaccident269, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At 10:20 The victim was using a "Schonstedt GA 72-cd Locator in his "clearance area" and got a signal. He moved the grass from the area and "noticed a silver coloured metallic object visible on the surface". He was moving a stone to investigate this "suspected part of a BLU 97" when at 10:20 it detonated. He suffered injury to the index finger of his right hand. He was wearing his PPE according to SOPs. [The PPE was not described or photographed but would have included a visor and flak-jacket as required in that theatre.]

Ddasaccident274, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident occurred after the victim had just changed roles with his partner in the working lane. He used the detector and after a few minutes, he detected a sound and began to cut the grass lower. It was when he started to use the spade (trowel) that the detonation occurred. The deminer was not injured.

Ddasaccident267, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The victim was excavating at 11:08 when he initiated a PMA-3 [identified by inference] with his left foot. He received minor injuries to his left foot, right leg and both hands. The injuries were light enough to allow him to extract himself from the mined area to a "safe road" where he was met by the Section Commander and the two medics.

Ddasaccident297, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 22 April 2000, the Deminer was conducting clearance activities in the CS [Cordon Sanitaire] along the first row mines. As he was working an R2M2 approximately 2m in front of him detonated without any external influences.

Ddasaccident435, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

In this case the victims were working as “deminers” at a site defined as “N298 - Demining; between road D-1 & r.b. of Korana riv. K: 0 I: 3” when they “Stepped on a mine PROM, MF#1252”. One suffered “heavy body injuries”, the other two suffered “Light body injuries”.

Ddasaccident433, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

In this case the victims were working as “deminers” at a site defined as “N298 - Demining; between road D-1 & r.b. of Korana riv. K: 0 I: 3” when they “Stepped on a mine PROM, MF#1252”. One suffered “heavy body injuries”, the other two suffered “Light body injuries”. One of those who suffered what are classed as “light injuries suffered: “hand and both legs fracture, half foot cut off, uric bladder and intestine injury” from which one can infer what “light” means.

Ddasaccident298, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At the time of the accident [the] deminer had identified a reading within a row of mines in the Cordon Sanitaire Minefield. Ground conditions were favourable with relatively level ground and not very hard but with small loose stones. The deminer was wearing full PPE including gloves in both hands for arm protection. After identifying a reading, the deminer pinpointed and started excavating. From his own statement, he had already located the mine and was further exposing it when it went off. He further states that a rock rolled back into the hole he was excavating and landed on a …

Ddasaccident307, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Because the area had been “verified”, and was therefore considered by all to be “safe”, the casualty walked straight out from the perimeter towards the indication box he was going to clear. Approximately 3.5 metres from his assigned work area he stepped on a V-69 bounding fragmentation mine.

Ddasaccident266, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Anxious to speed up progress, the victim decided to carry out a "reconnaissance". He checked a detector by passing it over his boot and in the air, then started to clear his way into the uncleared area ahead of the safe lane. He proceeded by checking a small area for each foot and stepping onto it if the detector did not signal. Having gone five metres in one direction, he could see that what he had thought was his target was not, and so turned the other way. His route traced a semi-circle. When he had passed in front of …

Ddasaccident337, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The demining team had been working at the site since February. The Victim was working in a breaching lane and set off a PMN mine.

Ddasaccident276, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The report stated that at “12:50 on 15 April 2000, [the victim] detonated a mine whilst conducting clearance in the Cordon Sanitaire Minefield”. When the casualty was recovered from the minefield and tended by the paramedic, it was found that he was conscious and had sustained only minor injuries.” The victim arrived at the site medical unit at 13:05 and the field doctor arrived “immediately afterwards”. The victim sustained superficial burns to his left “arm and forearm. A minor contusion also developed on his left wrist.” [Apparently, he was not taken to a hospital.]

Ddasaccident265, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

When they moved to the second site, they sent for a local villager to show them where the mines were. The villager led them along a trail where they found parts of tripwire and PMA-3 but could not locate the "minefield pattern". The victim and his partner went off the trail and found evidence of a PMA-2 detonation, then an intact PMR-2A and two PMA-3 mines.

Ddasaccident338, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

During supervision of demining activities in Shin Dand district of Farah Province, Victim No.1 found an unknown device (probably a warhead) on 10th April 2000. He wanted to investigate the device further, so took it to Herat. The next day, together with a “radio mechanic” he took it into the office and attempted to defuse and dismantle it. It exploded in the office. The two men died immediately.

Ddasaccident336, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The site of the accident was indicated by two dogs and the two victims moved forward to investigate. Victim No.1 began to excavate at the site with his pick. After some time he changed with Victim No.2. Without waiting for Victim No.1 to withdraw, Victim No.2 set to work with the pick and “immediately” initiated an M19 mine.

Ddasaccident318, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident occurred while carrying out a Survey Level 2 at Save minefield and the first deminer was tasked to make a cut into the minefield to a visible anti-group mine. He removed a piece of metal, then checked again with his detector. Having got another reading, (heard by his Section Commander who was 10m away) he started to excavate with his “shovel”. He hit another PMN which detonated.

Friend-In-Need Society Jaipur Foot Project: A Review And Recommendations For Upgrading Prosthetic And Patient Care Services, Usaid-Leahy

Global CWD Repository

In 1985, the Friend-in-Need Society (FINS) pioneered its Jaipur Foot Program to fill a need scarcely affected by government hospitals. Since 1991, USAID, through the Global Bureau’s Leahy War Victims Fund (LWVF), has partnered with FINS to extend services to more than 6,000 amputees. Several small private organizations address the physical mobility needs of civilian amputees and other persons with physical disabilities, but the number of prosthetic devices they contribute is quite small compared to the number contributed by FINS, and the cost of their services is beyond the means of the average Sri Lankan. FINS, Sri Lanka’s oldest social …

Ddas: Protection Needs In Humanitarian Demining, The Facts (2000), Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

I have approached this subject by studying the risks that deminers really face and the injuries that result, then working out how to minimise risk and protect against any residual danger. I bore in mind that there was no point is prescribing an action or a garment that would not be used. This is not an approach widely endorsed in the protective equipment industry, which apparently prefers to base its assessment of risk on experimental data and a scale of injury borrowed from the automobile industry. If the injuries commonly predicted by them were accurate, most of the accident victims …

Evaluation Of Dcof-Funded Peace Corps Youth-At-Risk Programming, Usaid-Leahy

Global CWD Repository

This report was the result of an evaluation of the collaboration between USAID and the Peace Corps in implementing DCOF-funded activities. The evaluation primarily explored the impact the partnership has had on intended beneficiaries, but also examined each agency’s assessments of this joint effort and the vitality of their partnership. The evaluation, the first conducted on the Participating Agency Service Agreement (PASA) which frames USAID/Peace Corps at-risk youth programming, was undertaken by an independent consultant with considerable awareness of the fund and its purposes.

Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund Portfolio Synopsis Spring 2000, Usaid-Leahy

Global CWD Repository

The Leahy War Victims Fund has now provided over $60 million in more than 16 countries. As the fund evolves, its agenda becomes more challenging. Its plans include inclusion of people with disabilities in planning and implementing programs; improved training; expanded community-based rehabilitation; development and production of appropriate wheelchairs; and increased coordination with other donors.

Each year, through the efforts of its collaborating partners and the dedicated and professional commitment of their local and international staff, the Leahy War Victims Fund is providing assistance to thousands of war victims, their families, and other people living with disabilities.

Ddasaccident345, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Both of the handlers were going over the area they were supposed to check with their EDDs, since it was one of the rare 'soil covered' areas within the cleared part of the site. The Victim] was following the first dog handler and activated the mine by pressure.

Ddasaccident270, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The victim initiated a mine at 13:10 while he was prodding to investigate a detector reading. His visor and apron "absorbed the blast", with the visor being torn off and landing in an uncleared area 8m away. The prodder had not been found at the time the report was written [it was found and photographed later].

Ddasaccident346, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

13:00 Start of work in the minefield. Team leader issued a task for marking the borders between the cleared and suspect areas with a mine tape. A minute before the explosion did happen he spoke to the injured deminer, tasking him with a particular piece of border to mark. The moment he went up to the top of the riverbank explosion happened.

Ddasaccident434, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

In this case the victims were working with the “special police force” engaged in demining when they initiated a PROM-1. One suffered “heavy body injuries… while mine clearing” and the other was killed.

Ddasaccident275, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The victim was continuing the breach begun by the earlier victim. He worked a further ten metres and checked the lane with his detector as he walked back towards the safe area. As he passed the site of the earlier accident, he got a slight detector reading and began to investigate with his prod. The mine detonated.

Ddasaccident296, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Wearing his visor and armour apron, the victim swept the ground with his detector and noticed no signal. He then got up to cut vegetation and, at 0825 hours, detonated an R2M2 mine by stepping on it. “He sustained traumatic high velocity blast amputation of the right foot with sparing of the ipsilateral ankle joint. He also sustained first degree burns to the right arm”. The site supervisor corrected this to “part of” his right foot being amputated.

Improved Anti-Personnel Mine Neutralization Device Test Report, Christopher Wanner

Global CWD Repository

This report describes the results and analysis of the field test of the Improved Anti Personnel Mine Neutralization Device (APMINUD). This is the second test of this equipment and follows a six month design and engineering effort on the equipment to correct and improve upon deficiencies identified in the initial version of the APMINUD.

The APMINUD is a mechanical tool designed to safely detonate antipersonnel landmines as part of a peace time clearance operation. The APMINUD consists of a mobile blast and fragment containment shell, with a mechanical striker inside. It can be used in conjunction with a shielded, all …