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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Explosive Remnants Of War In North Africa, Ayman Sorour
Explosive Remnants Of War In North Africa, Ayman Sorour
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article looks at explosive remnants of war in North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) from different perspectives, including the scope and history of the ERW, its impact and its relationship to security.
Humanitarian Landmine Action In China And The Role Of The Ngo, Zhai Dequan
Humanitarian Landmine Action In China And The Role Of The Ngo, Zhai Dequan
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Though China is not a State Party to the Ottawa Convention, the country has long been involved in humanitarian efforts to alleviate the landmine problem. Nationally, China has launched mine clearance campaigns, and has become a State Party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. Two organizations have also been established to alleviate the landmine problem. Internationally, China has sponsored several mine-clearance workshops, and has promoted international partnerships to work toward mine clearance.
Chad, Country Profile
Chad, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The mine and unexploded ordnance contamination in Chad is a result of decades of internal conflict, the 1973 Libyan invasion and intensive mining during Libya’s occupation of the Aouzou Strip in the north from 1984 to 1987. Most of the known mined areas are in the Borkou- Ennedi-Tibesti region in the north and the Biltine and Quaddai regions in the east. Areas such as the Wadi Doum Military Base are also contaminated with abandoned missiles, munitions and other explosive remnants of war.
Angola, Country Profile
Angola, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
No abstract provided.
Sudan, Country Profile
Sudan, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
A civil war lasting for more than 20 years has caused Sudan’s landmine problem to be of great concern. According to UNICEF, Sudan ranks among the top 10 landmine-affected countries worldwide even though the full extent of the problem is largely unknown because no Landmine Impact Survey has been conducted. The greatest concentration of explosive remnants of war is located in the south, where the bulk of the fighting occurred, but exact statistics regarding existing stockpiles and mine-related incidents are unavailable due to a lack of records.
Mauritania, Country Profile
Mauritania, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Mauritania is located in northwest Africa. Poverty defines this country, ranking 149th of 174 countries on the human development index, where 40 percent of the children are malnourished and 60 percent of adults in Mauritania are illiterate. Much of the citizens’ income and government’s revenue come from the cities of Tiris Zemmour and Dakhlet Nouadhibou, which coincide with the location of a majority of mines.
Zimbabwe, Country Profile
Zimbabwe, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
During the War of Liberation between 1976 and 1979, the Rhodesian Army laid minefields along the northern and eastern borders of Zimbabwe (formerly known as Rhodesia). The Rhodesian Army handed over minefield records to the Zimbabwe National Army in 1980. The minefields were emplaced in standard patterns and were marked and posted with danger/warning signs, but many of these signs have been stolen, destroyed or removed over time. It was initially estimated that 2.5 million anti-personnel mines were emplaced in Zimbabwe and the remaining minefields stretch 218 miles. Zimbabwe signed the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention on Dec. 3, 1997, and …
Uganda, Country Profile
Uganda, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Due to the insurgency of the Lord’s Resistance Army against the Ugandan government, landmines have been placed by various groups throughout the country for the past two decades. In the early 1980s both rebel groups and Ugandan government forces laid mines. Since then, there have been no allegations of government use inside Uganda, though the Lord’s Resistance Army continues to use anti-personnel mines. Though the landmine and unexploded ordnance problem is not as severe as in other parts of the continent, these remnants of war continue to injure or kill civilians as well as pose a problem for returning refugees …
Somaliland, Country Profile
Somaliland, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Landmine and unexploded ordnance contamination in Somaliland is the result of the 1964 and 1977–78 border wars with Ethiopia and the 1988 –91 civil war between the Siyad Barre regime and the Somali National Movement. The Barre regime troops laid most of the landmines, using mines to threaten the civilian population and protect military installations and civilian infrastructure against SNM attacks.
Ethiopia Part 2, Country Profile
Ethiopia Part 2, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Ethiopia’s 70-year history of internal and international armed conflict, from the Italian invasion of 1935 to the Ethiopian- Eritrean War (1998–2000), has contributed to significant landmine and unexploded ordnance contamination. Ethiopia is one of the world’s 10 most heavily mined countries, with the government estimating it will take decades to clear. The most extensive contamination is in the Tigray, Afar and Somali regions. It is estimated that during the recent Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict, Ethiopian forces laid 150,000–200,000 landmines and Eritrea laid 240,000 mines over the disputed border areas.
Ethiopia, Country Profile
Ethiopia, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Ethiopia’s 70-year history of internal and international armed conflict, from the Italian invasion of 1935 to the Ethiopian- Eritrean War (1998–2000), has contributed to significant landmine and unexploded ordnance contamination. Ethiopia is one of the world’s 10 most heavily mined countries, with the government estimating it will take decades to clear. The most extensive contamination is in the Tigray, Afar and Somali regions. It is estimated that during the recent Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict, Ethiopian forces laid 150,000–200,000 landmines and Eritrea laid 240,000 mines over the disputed border areas.
Egypt, Country Profile
Egypt, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Egypt is one of the most heavily mined nations in the world, with estimates ranging from 16.7 to 22 million landmines/pieces of unexploded ordnance, or an estimated one-tenth of the world’s 200 million landmines. Seventeen million landmines and pieces of UXO are estimated to be located in the Western Desert, a result of intense fighting during World War II between Allied and Axis forces at the El- Alamein perimeter. Approximately five million additional landmines were spread across the Sinai Peninsula and Red Sea coasts, largely from the Arabian-Israeli conflicts of 1956, 1957 and 1973. The Egyptian military estimates 19.7 million …
Eritrea, Country Profile
Eritrea, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Eritrea’s landmine and unexploded ordnance contamination problem began during World War II when British and Italian forces fought on Eritrean soil. A long struggle for independence (1962–1991) and a border war with Ethiopia (1998–2000) followed, exacerbating the problem. Eritrea has never produced or exported anti-personnel mines; all mines used in the past were stolen from Ethiopian forces from minefields or storage facilities during the War of Independence. There are no mine stockpiles except for 214 mines retained by the Eritrean Demining Authority National Training Center for training and development. Eritrea acceded to the Ottawa Convention1 Aug. 27, 2001, and it …
Mine Action In Mauritania, Alioune Hacen
Mine Action In Mauritania, Alioune Hacen
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Conflict with neighbouring Western Sahara has left Mauritania with a significant landmine problem. The country has taken steps to reduce the impact of mines and with international help, hopes to be rid of this scourge in time to meet its Ottawa mandated deadline.
Mozambique, Country Profile
Mozambique, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Once a Portuguese colony, Mozambique achieved independence in 1975 after a 12-year struggle led by Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (FRELIMO). Between 1977 and 1992 about a million Mozambicans died as the result of fighting or famine in a war that left the country unstable and its economy in ruins. In 1992, a United Nations-negotiated peace agreement led to the end of a civil war between FRELIMO and the rebel group Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (RENAMO). Following a brief period of stability, Mozambique suffered severe flooding in 2000 and 2001, which destroyed much of the nation’s infrastructure. Then in 2002, a …
Senegal, Country Profile
Senegal, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Landmine contamination in Senegal can be found in almost all the villages between the Casamance River and the border with Guinea-Bissau, and along the border with The Gambia. The contamination stems primarily from fighting in the Casamance region since 1982 between the Senegalese Army and the Mouvement des Forces Democratiques de Casamance, especially since 1997. The area south of Casamance between the Casamance River and the Guinea-Bissau border is the most affected region. The extent of the contamination is unclear without the Landmine Impact Survey, but according to the Landmine Monitor Report, about 1,400 square kilometers (541 square miles) of …
Libya, Country Profile
Libya, Country Profile
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Libya is one of the world’s largest socialist republics and has been ruled by many different foreign powers. Libya’s official name is the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. During the Turk-Italian War of 1911, there was a constant battle between the Libyans and the Italians until the Italians seized the country in 1939. It was also the major battleground in northern Africa when Italy entered World War II, which left many landmines scattered throughout Libya. Landmines were also emplaced along the border during the conflict with Egypt in 1977 and again in 1980–87 when Libya entered a conflict with …
Suriname Demining Mission, Juan Carlos Ruan
Suriname Demining Mission, Juan Carlos Ruan
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
After achieving independence in 1975, the Republic of Suriname experienced periods of intense political and economic instability. In 1986, a guerrilla war broke out in the eastern region of the country. For the next six years, the armed forces of Suriname were involved in a conflict with five insurgency groups, during which time an estimated 1,000 anti-personnel mines were employed. Following the signing of a peace treaty in 1992, the Organization of American States participated in demining operations supported by the governments of Holland, Guyana and Brazil. All mines were destroyed, with the excep-tion of one minefield sown by the …
Demining In Iran, Eddie Banks
Demining In Iran, Eddie Banks
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The United Nations classification of mine-affected countries names the Islamic Republic of Iran as one of the world’s most affected countries. Historically Iran has been called the “cradle of civilization,” and it contains a number of important historical sites, including the ancient city of Persepolis (or Takht-e-Jamshid), which was destroyed by Alexander the Great in 322 B.C.
Observations On Recent Changes In The Northwest Cambodia’S Mine/Uxo Situation, Michael Simmons, Mao Vanna, Soun Chea, Noum Chay Roum
Observations On Recent Changes In The Northwest Cambodia’S Mine/Uxo Situation, Michael Simmons, Mao Vanna, Soun Chea, Noum Chay Roum
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Based on recently acquired data from selected areas in Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia, the authors offer a preliminary report on what appear to be very significant shifts in the nature of the mine/unexploded ordnance situation. The new data is used to make comparisons between the situation in 2000 and the current situation. Next, they offer evidence of how locally based initiatives appear to have become the predominant driving force of mine action in the selected areas.