Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

National Capacities And Residual Contamination | Liberia, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This case study forms part of a broader GICHD study on national capacities and residual contamination and is based on both desk-top research and findings from a GICHD mission to Liberia in March 2014. The purpose of the report is to document Liberia’s experience of developing national clearance capacities to address residual contamination, and to identify and present good practices and lessons learnt.

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 18.3 (2014), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Pacific Islands | Program Management | Notes from the Field | Research and Development

Demining In Remote Areas Of Northern Afghanistan, Artyom Harutyunyan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since September 2010, the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) has carried out survey-and-clearance operations in the isolated Darwaz region of northern Afghanistan, where explosive-ordnance caches and unexploded ordnance and mine contamination remain a serious concern.

Using Plants To Detect Landmines, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia (U.S.) are investigating how plants can be used to detect buried explosives, such as landmines, in areas of dense vegetation, where traditional demining methods are difficult.

Erw Contamination In The Pacific Islands, Justin Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The legacy of explosive remnants of war (ERW) has affected the daily lives of Pacific Islanders for more than 70 years. ERW contamination in the Pacific stems from conflict between the Allied forces and Japanese forces during World War II. Survey, clearance and information-management programs are helping to manage the continued risks to the impacted populations.

Harnessing Geospatial Data To Enhance Erw Clearance In Pacific Islands, Jessica Dell

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since World War II, the prevalence of explosive remnants of war has persisted in the Pacific Island nations. Supported by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA) and partnered with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, iMMAP seeks to improve the region's safety through lōōm, a geospatial information management system.

Clearance Operations In The Pacific Islands, Len Austin

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Golden West Humanitarian Foundation’s mine- and explosive-remnants-of-war clearance operations in the Marshall Islands reduced remaining World War II munitions contamination. Humanitarian efforts helped Mili Island and Taroa Island inhabitants recover land with nonexplosive technology during the four-month initiative.

Capacity Building: Lessons Learned, Vanessa Finson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Norwegian People’s Aid believes that to deliver results in mine action programs, it must empower and support national governments to take ownership of the contamination problem. Successful capacity-building efforts require support and buy-in from national authorities and mutual respect between parties involved.

Humanitarian And Developmental Impact Of Anti-Vehicle Mines, Pascal Rapillard, Maryam Walton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Anti-vehicle mines negatively impact humanitarian efforts and developmental progress. Key findings from a South Sudan case study show that mine contamination impacts humanitarian efforts directly through casualties, while dangers of agricultural development and hindrance to foreign investment are also primary developmental concerns for the South Sudanese.

Evaluating The Mini Minewolf, Phil Straw

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The U.S. Department of Defense Humanitarian Research and Development Program conducted operational field evaluation to assess the capabilities of Mini MineWolf technology.

Evaluating Landmine-Detection Rats In Operational Conditions, Amanda Mahoney, Timothy Edwards, Kate Lalonde, Christophe Cox, Bart Weetjens, Tekimiti Gilbert, Tess Tewelde, Alan Poling

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Researchers evaluate the accuracy of pouched rats’ ability to detect landmines under operational search conditions. Results indicate the ineffectiveness of one training method for maintaining quality operational performance and suggest further examination.

Tracense Develops New Explosive Detector, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Scientists at Tracense, a technology company in Tel Aviv, Israel, created a new nanotechnology explosive detector.

Doing No Harm? Mine Action And Land Issues In Cambodia, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This report includes recommendations that seek to build upon good practice and strengthen systems and processes to ensure mine action efforts not only do no harm, but also bring the maximum possible benefits to beneficiary households and the socio-economic development of Cambodia as a whole. The recommendations, described in detail in the report, include the following:

• improving coordination between mine action and land actors, and their respective prioritisation processes;
• providing land rights training for mine action actors;
• strengthening post clearance monitoring and evaluation; and
• improving the flexibility of current funding modalities.

The Humanitarian And Developmental Impact Of Anti-Vehicle Mines, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Anti-vehicle mines (AVMs) have always had a humanitarian impact, but their significance has often been overshadowed by the higher-profile topic of anti-personnel mines (APMs), and thus the need to address AVMs has been neglected. In some countries, AVMs now present a greater threat to civilian populations than APMs, yet they are often viewed as a marginal issue in international fora. This publication seeks to depict the physical, social, economic and developmental impact of AVMs. AVMs are landmines designed to be triggered by vehicles rather than individual people. They can remain active for decades, and a number of them are difficult …

To Walk The Earth In Safety 13th Edition (Fy2013), Us Dos Pm/Wra

Global CWD Repository

The 13th edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety describes the programs and partnerships that comprise the U.S. Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) Program. Since 1993, the U.S. has led the international donor community in reducing the harmful effects of poorly secured, unstable or illegally traded conventional weapons of war. We have contributed over $2.3 billion to more than 90 countries around the world.

This mission resonates with my own experience. I started my career in Afghanistan, where explosive remnants of war had already claimed thousands of lives. I am proud to be in a position to oversee U.S. efforts …

Doing No Harm? Mine Action And Land Issues In Cambodia, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Land conflict, tenure insecurity and an inequitable distribution of land are among the most pressing challenges facing Cambodia today. In a country in which most people depend on agriculture, livestock rearing, fishing and forest products for their livelihoods, secure access to safe and productive land is crucial. Yet, over the past decade land conflict has increased dramatically, with one NGO reporting having recorded disputes involving 700,000 people between 2000 and 2012. Land distribution is highly unequal: In 2010 it was estimated that just one percent of the population owned 30 percent of Cambodia’s land.

In addition to land-related disputes, landlessness …

Assessment Of Mozambique's National Capacities And To Manage Residual Contamination, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Mozambique is committed to having completed implementation of its mine clearance obligations under Article 5 of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) by 1 January 2015. This will, for the most part, marks the end of proactive demining efforts in Mozambique. It is understood that it is always possible that previously unknown mined areas may be discovered after completion has been declared.

With a view to being able to manage residual contamination once completion of international treaty obligations has been declared and pro-active humanitarian demining efforts have ended, Mozambique's National Demining Institute (IND) requested the GICHD to conduct an assessment …

Balkan Flooding Exacerbates Landmine Crisis, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Balkan Flooding Exacerbates Landmine Crisis.