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Public, Private, And Civil Sector Partnerships Bolster Humanitarian Demining Efforts, Bob Ebberson, Wendy Hart

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Schonstedt Instrument Company is a small manufacturing company located in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, about 70 miles (112 km) from Washington, D.C. Schonstedt makes instruments that locate underground objects. These include pipe, cable, and magnetic locators that find and trace underground utilities and ferrous metals such as boundary markers used by surveyors. Magnetic locators have proven to be successful in locating unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). In looking for ways to grow this market, Schonstedt recognized an opportunity to support humanitarian demining throughout the world. Determining that the sale of a pipe and …

Transitioning Mine Action Programmes To National Ownership, Pascal Simon

Global CWD Repository

Cambodia's mine and ERW problem is a result of the long period of civil and regional conflicts that affected the country from the late 60s until 1998. Due to these conflicts, Cambodia is now one of the most heavily contaminated countries in the world, with more than 63,000 mine/ERW victims recorded since 1979. The first efforts to address Cambodia’s massive mine/ERW contamination came from the UN Advance Mission for Cambodia (UNAMIC), which contracted the HALO Trust in 1991-1992 to survey 700 km² of land in Battambang province ahead of the probable repatriation of 360,000 Cambodian refugees based in Thailand. In …

National Mine Action Strategy - Cambodia, The Royal Government Of Cambodia

Global CWD Repository

Cambodia’s landmine problem is the result of a protracted sequence of internal and regional conflicts that affected the country from the mid 1960s until the end of 1998. The nature of landmine and ERW contamination in Cambodia is highly complex. The northwestern regions bordering Thailand are heavily affected, while other parts of the country (mainly the East) are considered moderate to low impact, affected mainly by ERW. Mines and ERW have caused an unacceptable number of casualties, both military and civilian and have hindered national development. Mine clearance started along the Cambodia-Vietnam border by the company of women soldiers of …

Blast Testing Of Visors Used For Humanitarian Demining, Charlene Fawcett

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article discusses experimental results from blast testing of Security Devices Ltd. polycarbonate visors used by humanitarian deminers. Visors used in the blast testing fell into one of three categories: new visors, manually scratched visors, and scratched and heat-gun-repaired visors. Results show that the visors in all three categories failed to meet the draft international standard for blast testing relevant at the time, that further research is required to establish pressure profiles for the standard charge size being tested, and that the proposed heat- treatment method does appear to degrade the blast resistance of the visor used in the test.

Proper Usage Of Torch Systems For In-Situ Landmine Neutralization By Burning For Humanitarian Demining, Divyakant Patel

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Researchers at the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command who work with the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center as part of the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, are advancing demining beyond traditional approaches with the use of torch systems for mine neutralization. This article describes trial results for three such torches.

Minefield Indicators And Analytical Mine Contamination Assessment In Scientific Projects And In Practice, Milan Bajic, Andrija Krtalic, Cedo Matic, Dejan Vuletic

Global CWD Repository

The key factors of the application of the airborne remote sensing technology for humanitarian demining are the minefield indicators [1] or the indicators of mine presence and the indicators of mine absence [2] and the analytical assessment of the contamination by the landmines [3]. The basic simple concept of the minefield indicators was given in [1], where it was related to the ordinary physical features of the artificial and natural objects in the mine suspicious area. Similar concept was used in other works, while in [2] were introduced signatures of the minefield indicators and additional contextual features. The signatures depend …

2009 Colombia Humanitarian Demining Planning Workshop, Cisr/Jmu

Global CWD Repository

From 9 to 12 June 2009, representatives of the Colombian government’s humanitarian mine action office and the Humanitarian Demining Department of the Colombian military met to devise a way forward in planning for the expansion and enhancement of the country’s program to eradicate landmines from the national territory.

The Mine Action Information Center at James Madison University facilitated the Colombia Humanitarian Demining Planning Workshop (Taller de Planificación del Desminado Humanitario en Colombia) in Bogotá, Colombia. The workshop was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, and was attended by representatives from the U.S. and …

Experimenting With New Technologies For Technical Survey In Humanitarian Demining, Fernando Termentini, Salvatore Esposito, Marco Balsi

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Humanitarian Demining Laboratory of Università La Sapienza di Roma, Italy, currently performs research and experimental work for multisensor explosive-remnants-of-war detecting platforms. In this article, the authors report preliminary testing results on a new, active thermal technique discovered through their research.

Humanitarian Demining As A Precursor To Economic Development, John Lundberg

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Using three specific examples—Mozambique, Eritrea and Iraq—the author shows clearly how demining and development go hand-in-hand. He shows how clearing mines to restore power lines, rail service and agricultural land helps communities become economically viable again.

Marminca's Experience: Coordinating Humanitarian Demining, Luiz Felipe Ramos Gonzalez

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Humanitarian demining is an essential component of mine action, which encompasses a series of activities such as mine and UXO removal, technical studies, mapping, the returning of cleared land to the communities, victim assistance, and mine risk education (MRE), among others. Since 1995, the Organization of American States (OAS) has carried out demining programs in Central America, concentrating its efforts in four countries: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. This program has been carried out in the region with the support of donor countries, beneficiary countries, contributing countries and the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB).

Humanitarian Demining Within The American Continent: A Silent And Successful Reality, Colonel Mellado

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The objective of the Millennium Development plan of the United Nations is to "eradicate extreme poverty and hunger [and] guarantee the sustainability of the environment." Through the selfless efforts of the humanitarian demining programs in Central and South America by the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB), the preceding objectives are being accomplished. Thus, I am overwhelming compelled to share the successes and sing the praises of the personal sacrifices taken on by demining personnel.

The Quick Reaction Demining Force: The United States' Response To Humanitarian Demining Crises, Hayden Roberts

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Humanitarian crises, particularly crises in which landmines are involved, may occur without warning and require an immediate response. Examples of such crises include Hurricane Mitch, which struck Central America in 1988, the rapid, post-air war return of refugees to mine-infested Kosovo in 1999, and tropical cyclones Hudah and Eline that ravaged Mozambique in 2000, displacing thousands of landmines. To respond to such emergency situations quickly and efficiently, the United States developed a Quick Reaction Demining Force (QRDF).

Rethinking Humanitarian Demining For Coalition Forces, Tom Barnett, Kyle Shaffer

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

When you first arrive as a member of the Multinational Brigade North (MNB(N)), you are full of promise. You know your team of highly trained professional soldiers will make a difference in the lives of those that live in BiH. Then it sets in. Your six-month tour of duty doesn’t allow you time to finish what you start. So what is it you can do to make a difference in only six months? This is the exact question that started the process of developing the National Guard Demining Initiative in BiH. This initiative was undertaken by the U.S. Army National …

The Israeli Defense Force's Humanitarian Demining Efforts, Ahron Etengoff, Gerald Steinberg, Jennette Townsend

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) Engineering Corps is the mine action center of Israel. Currently, IDF is engaged in various activities in response to the Palestinian terror campaign and does not have the resources to participate in international demining programs. However, the Israeli government views the issue of international cooperation in the areas of mine clearance, mine awareness and mine victim rehabilitation to be of major importance, despite the difficult budgetary situation. In addition, IDF continues to prioritize mine action internally.

Humanitarian Demining Efforts In The Occupied Palestinian Territories, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In an August 2002 assessment of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that the following areas in the OPT are not properly fenced, marked or cleared:

• Minefields from the 1967 Middle East war—unmarked minefields were reportedly found between Jordan and the West Bank, in the Jordan Valley and in other strategic areas in the West Bank.
• Israeli military training zones.
• Areas of confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians.

Though no minefields have been officially declared in the Gaza Strip, Ayid Abu Qtaish, mine awareness coordinator of Defence for Children International (DCI), Palestine Section, has no …

Technology's Promises, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Every technology under development makes big promises. Here are five projects that may someday impact the world of mine action.

The Mine Action Information Center And The State Department’S Humanitarian Demining Fellowship: Molding The Future Of The Landmine Community, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

James Madison University (JMU) is host to the State Department’s Mine Action Information Center (MAIC). The MAIC has given many students the opportunity, whether through local employment or the State Department’s Humanitarian Demining Fellowship, to learn and experience mine action. Today, many of JMU’s former students are players in the global landmine community.

The U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research And Development Program, Nicole Kreger

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research and Development (R&D) Program rapidly develops, evaluates and demonstrates equipment for humanitarian demining, hoping to improve the overall safety of the individual deminer and the efficiency of humanitarian demining operations worldwide. By collaborating with a number of different members of the humanitarian demining community, the R&D Program strives to cater to the needs of those in the field and effectively fill any technology gaps as quickly as possible.

Humanitarian Demining Research: The Future Role Of The European Union, Russell Gasser

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article aims to give an introduction to the information about the European Union’s (EU) Research and Technological Development (RTD) programme which is available on several of the EU websites. The sites are listed below.

U.S. Humanitarian Demining In Africa, Sarah Kindig

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Due to the numerous internal conflicts, crises and wars that several of the nations in Africa have faced, this region is one of the places in the world that is significantly affected by landmines. In an attempt to alleviate the suffering from landmine injuries, the United States has set out to provide humanitarian mine action assistance to many of these afflicted nations.

Tailoring Partnerships For Success: Experiences From The Djiboutian Humanitarian Demining Program, Alan Childress, Matt Zajac

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article examines the multiple partnerships that were formed during the planning and training deployment of a team comprised of a sailor, Special Operations Forces (SOF) soldiers, Marines, Department of State resourcers, a civilian demining organization, and U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) planners. Several of the first-time partnerships discussed could be applicable to future Humanitarian Demining (HD) programs. A fundamental lesson is that the organizational parameters of selected U.S. government HD operations require flexibility, and may need to be dismembered and recombined to successfully accomplish a program's goals. Equally important, thesecooperative efforts resulted in significant cost savings to U.S. taxpayers without …

Driving The Hd Machine In The African Bush, Andy Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Almost every country in Southern Africa has a mine problem and most of these countries have a tradition of solving their own problems. Because the region is famous for its mine-resistant vehicles, this paper concentrates on innovative mechanical technologies—but it could just as easily have concentrated on PPE or testing facilities where Southern Africa also leads the way.

Humanitarian Demining In Egypt: A Half-Century Struggle, Timothy Kennedy

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Over the years and with limited resources, Egypt has demonstrated a strong commitment to eradicating the landmine threat through its dedicated Army Corps of Engineers demining campaign. Since 1948, with limited financing and direction, they report clearing approximately 31 percent of the total mined areas and 51 percent of the mines or UXO. These clearance operations have been costly—Egypt expended over $91 million (U.S.) in national funds and lost over 200 deminers. Competing priorities and dwindling financial resources imposed a halt to active HD operations in 1998. Egypt requested U.S. government HD assistance, and the U.S. Central Command developed a …

Humanitarian Demining In The Sultanate Of Oman, Steve Soucek, Darrell Strother

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Oman has a low to moderate landmine/unexploded ordnance (UXO) problem. Anti-tank (AT) and anti-personnel (AP) landmines were laid in the Dhofar region between 1964 and 1975 during an internal struggle with the People’s Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf (PFLOG, later shortened to PFLO, a communist separatist group). Both the Royal Army of Oman (RAO)—with its allies Jordan, Iran and the United Kingdom—and the PFLO used landmines during the conflict; the RAO to support defensive positions or to interdict the separatists’ movements, and the separatists to ambush the RAO and allied units.

The Jordanian Humanitarian Demining Program: A Model Of Optimism And Persistence, Jose Saucedo

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Detecting and removing over 300,000 estimated mines in Jordan’s 509 mine fields is a huge but not insurmountable problem. The deliberate clearing process requires courageous patience, a demonstrated quality of Jordan’s highly qualified engineer officers and soldiers. Trained and experienced deminers, outfitted with state-of-the-art protective equipment and using internationally recognized demining techniques and methodologies, form the base of the Royal Corps of Engineers Humanitarian Demining (HD) attack plan. Though many mines are unaccounted for due to erosion, flooding, and accidental detonation, Royal Corps of Engineer HD soldiers have an established perseverance that will prevail.

Yemen Humanitarian Demining Program, Jack Holly

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Republic of Yemen is the southern-most nation on the Arabian Peninsula and has unique geographic features for this region. Like most Middle East countries, it contains desert land, rich oil reserves, and major ports for shipping. Unlike its neighbors, Yemen’s landscape rises quickly from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden into mountain ranges well over 2,000 meters above sea level. Much of this landscape is fertile farmland on which the Yemeni people grow their food and raise livestock.

U.S. Humanitarian Demining In The Middle East, Stacy L. Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United States seeks to relieve human suffering caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) while promoting U.S. foreign policy interests. U.S. objectives are to reduce civilian casualties, create conditions for the safe return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes and reinforce an affected country’s stability. The U.S. seeks to accomplish these objectives by helping to establish and support sustainable indigenous mine action capabilities in mine-affected nations where appropriate. Since fiscal year 1993, the United States has committed almost $500 million (U.S.) to global mine action initiatives, including research and development and survivor assistance. Nearly $90 million (U.S.) …

The Development Of The Spatial Information Clearinghouse In Support Of Humanitarian Demining, Helmut Kraenzle, Gina Beale

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The James Madison University’s Geographic Science Team’s humanitarian demining project focuses on the development of a web-based Spatial Information Clearinghouse, which provides information on spatial data issues, Global Information Systems, and data systems. It also tracks where spatial data for different countries can be found.

U.S. Humanitarian Demining In Latin America, Stacy L. Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United States coordinates aid across Latin America through mine awareness and clearance operations. Channeled mainly through the OAS, U.S. funds support comprehensive mine action programs as needed in Central America.

The Necessity Of Implementing A Public-Health Approach To Humanitarian Demining, Daniel Wolf, Steven Barmazel

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Clearing mines is expensive, and demining programs usually consume funding before reaching the task of mine removal. The authors suggest ways to make demining more practical, effective and economical using a "public-health" approach.