Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

International Rescue Committee, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), founded at the request of Albert Einstein to assist opponents of Adolf Hitler, helps people fleeing racial, religious and ethnic persecution as well as those uprooted by war and violence. The IRC, with a staff from 40 countries, is a global organization. International institutions, governments and individual donors support the organization. Recently, the European Commission and individual European nations contributed substantial funding to assist IRC humanitarian aid projects.

U.N. Department Of Humanitarian Affairs, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

U.N. Department of Humanitarian Affairs

Vietnam Veterans Of America Foundation, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Founded in 1980 by a contingent of war-aware Vietnam veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) endorses a globally conscious environment to assist civilians trapped in the crossfire of war. Staffed by people intent on lessening the pain inflicted on the civilian populations of war-torn countries, members of VVAF possess the knowledge and caring capacity to dedicate the time and resources necessary to rebuild the lives of war victims.

Implementing Landmine Awareness Programs, Eric Filippino

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Among the wider mine action community, recognition is steadily growing of the need to incorporate socio-economic data and analysis into the planning, prioritization and evaluation of mine action. Shifting the focus away from the achievement of straightforward targets of land cleared or numbers of mines removed onto improving the lives of communities threatened by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) represents a major change in mine action thinking. Mine awareness, which also seeks to integrate socio-economic analysis into its work can play an important role in rounding out this concept.

Developing And Expanding Mine Awareness Programs, Roger Hess

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

An assessment of mine awareness programs.

Mine Action In Cambodia, Tim Grant

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

During the past five years, I have worked in four different mine awareness programs. The first was in 1990 with the Land Mine Awareness Programme (LMAP) whose mandate was to reach the Cambodian refugee camps on the Thai/Cambodian border. LMAP was the first mine awareness program to operate in the South East Asian region and was run through the International Rescue Committee (IRC) with funding by the Office of the U.N. Secretary General for the Coordination of Cambodian Humanitarian Assistance Programs.

Hurricane Mitch Jet Stream, Juan Carlos Ruan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In October-November 1998, Hurricane Mitch wreaked havoc upon the Caribbean and parts of Central America. The damage the storm produced was unprecedented in the affected areas. In Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica, UNICEF compiled these estimates on the human toll: 8,421 killed, 7,671 missing, 10,190 wounded, 1,537,687 evacuated and left homeless and 1,654,000 more affected in some direct way. Furthermore, Hurricane Mitch caused $6 billion worth of damage to the infrastructure of these countries.

Superman - "To Be Or Not To Be...", Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

There is a saying in the operational world that "Victory has a thousand fathers, while defeat is an orphan." The checkered path of the U.S. government-sponsored DC Comics venture in mine awareness has given that old saw new relevance. It seems that at various times during the past five years the Superman and Superwoman comic books have been described variously as being the ultimate tool in influencing appropriate behavior or as totally dysfunctional.

The International Committee Of The Red Cross Mine/Uxo Awareness Programs, Laurence Desvignes

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Many current mine awareness strategies continue to use a “presentation approach,” in which the community remains passive and simply receives information. For organizations using such an approach, mine awareness amounts to a simple public information campaign isolated from other kinds of mine action and humanitarian activities. With the aim of addressing the threat of mines and UXO more effectively, the ICRC has adopted another approach. First, the ICRC gathers relevant information on local needs, which can be used to devise an appropriate mine/UXO awareness strategy. Next, the ICRC involves mine-contaminated communities in the mine awareness process. The ICRC also cooperates …

Overview Of Mine Awareness Programs In Kosovo & Somaliland, Colonel L. Dyck, Bob Macpherson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since September 1999, CARE, working with its mine action partner, MineTech, has been engaged in a mine awareness project in Kosovo.

Mine Awareness At The Cambodian Mine Action Center, Tang Sun Hao

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The mission of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) Mine/UXO Awareness Branch is to reduce mine/UXO casualty rates by educating people about the nature of the danger and the appropriate steps to avoid the risk of accidents. The primary objective of CMAC Mine/UXO Awareness is no longer to teach people about the presence and dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance, but rather, it is to ensure that people have the correct knowledge and make them more able and intent to avoid risk-behavior. In Cambodia, most communities have knowledge, sometimes gained in a tragic way, about landmines.

Empowering The People Through Mine Awareness In Latin America, Juan Carlos Ruan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

At the Battle of Williamsburg in 1862, the decision was made to adapt the first shell in order to surprise the enemy. No one would have predicted that an unending battle of man against his own creation was in the works. Perhaps, if the strong negative feelings raised by mine use at the beginning would have deemed this weapon improper and banished its use, countries around the world would not have perfected the art of producing and employing landmines. We have watched landmines evolve from clumsy, easily re-deployed weapons to present day AP mines that continue to claim the lives …

Nato-Stabilization Force, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) was established in 1996 following the successful implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (established in Paris in December 1995) by NATO’s Implementation Force (IFOR).

Global Information Networks In Education: Landmine Awareness Education Website, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Global Information Networks in Education: Landmine Awareness Education Website

Organizations Operating In Kosovo, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Organizations Operating in Kosovo

Ddasaccident437, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

In this case “while mine clearing procedure, in one canal by the state road D-7 was a vegetation burn and in other canal deminers from [Name excised] demining company were working. [The Victim] was hit in the back and legs while checking the fire.”

Ddasaccident329, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

As he was going down the row to mark the end of the row, he stood on two PMA-1 mines on top of each other. At the time of the accident, the [Demining group] reconnaissance team was conducting a Level 2 Survey without proper communication, medical support and without wearing PPE. This activity was being carried out despite an earlier decision to suspend clearance operations because of poor weather conditions.

Ddasaccident327, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The [Demining group] base informed [demining group Programme Manager] that Morina #2 clearance have started. Uncontrolled explosion occurs in Morina 2 minefield, 1 deminer injured.

Ddasaccident309, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On the day of the accident the site-log recorded that work started at 06:30 and a change-over took place every 30 minutes thereafter. The accident occurred during a change-over period. While standing up from a kneeling position at 10:45, Victim No.1 lost his balance and fell forwards detonation a Type-72 antipersonnel blast mine [probably with his hand]. Victim No.1’s partner and Section Leader were standing too close to him at the time.

Ddasaccident365, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

“On his normal site duties of transporting water from a water pump that was close to the minefield, [the Victim] went into the minefield behind a Baobab tree to help himself to the bush toilet. Whilst defecating behind the tree he detonated an AP mine when he pricked on the ground with his machete.”

2nd Meeting Of The States Parties To The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (2000), Apmbc

Global CWD Repository

Geneva, 11-15 September 2000

SECOND MEETING OF THE STATES PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION

Ddasaccident341, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

[The Victim] was the first one to work in the critical working lane, while supported by deminer No 2. At 08.30 explosion was heard and all the works stopped within all three teams.

Ddasaccident273, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Work began at the site at 08:00. At 09:50 a deminer reported having found a PMA-3 while prodding [no mention of detectors was made]. The victim ordered the deminers out of the field and went to "neutralise" the mine. He removed the UPMAH initiator from the mine and noticed that is was "slightly damaged". He carried the mine body in his right hand and the initiator in his left hand as he walked out of the mined area. At 10.05 the detonator in the initiator exploded in his hand.

Ddasaccident342, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Deminer in the working lane was searching the area using his prodder. When he finalised his search and finished the working lane, he started to collect the mine tape from the left side of the lane, walking the ”cleared” working lane. That is where he activated with his left foot PMA-3 mine by stepping on it. PMA-3 mine was buried.

Ddasaccident343, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Their movements were such that one walked the middle of the tunnel in front of the other who lightened the way, while one was moving closer to the left side wall into the direction of movement – leaving out. At about 22.5 metre from the entrance [a fisherman] activated a mine (most probably a PROM-1) whose explosive blast threw him badly so that his head was found 2 metres from the crater from where the mine detonated, with his legs in the direction of the exit.

Ddasaccident301, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At 10:50 on 11 Aug 2000, [the victim – name withheld by group manager] detonated a mine whilst conducting clearance in the Cordon Sanitaire Minefield at UTM 0380797 8194039 in Mukumbura Communal lands.

Ddasaccident272, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident occurred at the start of the working day when the victim began working in the same lane as he had been working in on the previous day. Work started at 08:00 and he was "squatting on his knees" and prodding at 08:20 when he detonated a PMA-3 mine.

Ddasaccident300, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The deminer identified the reading within the confirmed row of mines. The deminer acted on this reading using excavation procedures. The mines destroyed and marked within the first row were R2M2. The predominate mine in this area of the Cordon is R2M2. The deminer stated he was excavating a reading when the mine detonated. There was physical evidence of excavation and water being used.

Ddasaccident014, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The group operated using a one-man drill and a two-man team with the resting deminers in a designated rest-area. Working time varied between 30 minutes and an hour depending on "the weather conditions". The last MACC QA visit had been seven days before. [There was no mention of metal-detectors in the report, so it is presumed that a "sapping drill was being used.]

Ddasaccident363, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

It was around 15:30 that [Victim No.8], one of the drivers of the two vehicles travelling together and who had escaped alive from the scene, informed the office that their vehicles were looted, the staff were killed, and the vehicles and some staff were burnt.