Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Ddasaccident529, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Details of this accident have been withheld by the demining NGO that employed the Victim. A spreadsheet including the Victim’s name and very brief details of the accident was made available in 2007. Some detail can be inferred from the information made available. For example, the fact that six people were injured during excavation of a small AP blast mine implies that safety distances were being ignored and field discipline was low. The main Victim also suffered head injuries that indicate that his head protection and visor were not being worn.

Ddasaccident479, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The incident occurred while raking with a heavy rake. The Team Leader was preparing the start lane of the minefield (003) when he initiated a mine via the attached anchor wire. He did this by pulling vegetation that was connected to the wire [presumably pulling with the rake]. The mine was approximately 1cm deep and set in hard baked soil. The mine was a [PRB] M-35 AP blast mine. The Victim was wearing Vest and Goggles at the time of the accident.

Uxo Risk Education Needs Assessment, Mag, Lao Youth Union

Global CWD Repository

As a result of intense ground battles and extensive bombing during the Indo-China War, especially during the years 1964 – 1973, Lao PDR has the distinction of being, per capita, the most heavily bombed nation in the world. The war left widespread unexploded ordnance (UXO) contamination, which thirty years on continues to act as a barrier to socio economic development causing death and injury to adults and children. UXO injury, especially in a country such as Lao PDR where access to adequate health services is limited, can result in long-term medical and psychological sequelae (Handicap International, 2004) as well as …

Report On The Mine Clearing Rake Test, Ida, U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research And Development, Office Of The Assistant Secretary Of Defense Special Operations And Low-Intensity Conflict

Global CWD Repository

The purpose of the operational evaluation test was to assess the ability of the mine clearing rake (MCR) to enhance the effectiveness of a humanitarian demining mission. To this end, the HD PM purchased an MCR and initiated the testing process.

Operational Demining Tasks Considered for the MCR: Based on the claims made regarding the MCR's performance, three distinct HD phases were considered for assessing the MCR's capabilities. These were the area preparation, demining, and quality assurance phases. Of the three, the area preparation and demining phases were considered poor choices for the MCR since it required driving the primary …

Ddasaccident467, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident occurred while the team were separating bulk storage boxes of fuses into serviceable and unserviceable stacks. The accident occurred in the open. Injuries to the team members occurred when a box of M6 82mm Russian Mortar fuses exploded when being moved.

Ddasaccident451, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

While Deminer was using mine detector, he found a signal, so he excavated the ground till he found a can and took it out. He checked again, still there was signal. He had started for more prodding. Suddenly the mine detonated. In result, he got injured on his right hands. Nose, lover lip, left Hand ,right Hand

Assessment Into Operational Mine/Uxo Clearance Activities In Kosovo, Vera Bohle, Phil Bean

Global CWD Repository

In detail the review team conducted a systematic review of the Task Dossiers held by the EOD Management Section to determine whether appropriate actions have been undertaken to declare Dangerous Areas (DAs) as being either cleared, cancelled, or to designate the DA as being a future clearance task. Due to the limited time of the evaluation a sample of 156 Dangerous Areas or Minefields (not counting CBU strike duplicates) included in 90 different Task Dossiers were investigated through the application of an agreed methodology. The selection of Task Dossiers did not follow coincidental or average sampling procedures, but was guided …

Master Thesis: Evaluation Of Embeddedness Of Humanitarian Mine Action Programs Funded By The Netherlands, For The Period 1996–2004, Michiel Van Bokhorst

Global CWD Repository

This research describes the evaluation of the HMA programs that are funded by the Netherlands for the period 1996–2004, specifically on their embeddedness into a broader development strategy. Embeddedness is defined as the extent in which other humanitarian objectives and programs are attached, combined or integrated with HMA programs. Embeddedness has increasingly attracted attention, because landmines and ERW are a direct threat to individuals and communities, but also indirectly by being a barrier for short-term emergency interventions and long-term development efforts. Nevertheless the Netherlands does not directly mention embeddedness of HMA in neither its HMA policy paper nor its 2003 …

7th Meeting Of The States Parties To The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (2006), Apmbc

Global CWD Repository

7th Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention held in Geneva, Switzerland from 18-22 September 2006,

Ddasaccident475, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At 06:55 Hrs one of the deminers of No-3 section [the Victim] while working in lane No-7 hit a mine on the top and resulted in a mine blast and he sustained SUPERFICIAL WOUNDS IN LEFT LOWER ARM, LEFT FEMUR, LEFT SIDE OF OVERHEAD AND LEFT CHIN .

Ddasaccident547, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 22 August 2006 at 1105 hrs a PMN mine detonated on [the Victim] deminer of party 10, section -04 of ATC MCT-09 while he was working in the site stepped on the mine. At the same day the deminer has detected a PMN mine at 10:05 am, after marking of the mine by mine marker the deminer has continued to work and around 11:00 the same deminer detected another PMN mine as he marked this mine by a small marker. After detecting this mine the relevant section leader called him to stop operation and come out from the work …

Ddasaccident482, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Continuing his SOP drills he began to excavate the area of the source of the signal to the metal detector using the trowel issued to him for this purpose. He may not have been working to the SOP drill, as it seems likely that, because of the restricted area of work caused by the surrounding rocks, he was digging directly down to the mine, rather than digging across to the mine by excavating a small trench. An explosion occurred when the PMN antipersonnel mine, which was the source of the metal detector signal, detonated.

Ddasaccident491, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The deminer stated that the two mines that he had found earlier that day had only been 5cm deep, and that he did not expect to find another mine so close to the last one [even though the previous three had been with 2 metres of each other], or so deep; he therefore assumed that the signal was not a mine. He thinks that the mine was deeper than 10cm below the surface. He accepts that he may have exerted too much pressure whilst excavating.

Ddasaccident477, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

A [Demining group] Manual Team One, deminer hit a No.10 AP mine from the top that resulted in a mine blast. The deminer suffered no injuries. He was wearing his protective Vest and Goggles. [Photographs of both Victim and PPE showed no damage.] The tines of the heavy rake were bent.

Ddasaccident478, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

A [Demining group] Manual Team One, deminer hit a No.10 AP mine from the top that resulted in a mine blast. The deminer suffered no injuries. He was wearing his protective Vest and Goggles. [Photographs of both Victim and PPE showed no damage.] The tines of the heavy rake were bent.

Ddasaccident504, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 13 August 2006 at 09:45 am a UXO was detonated on Noor Agha dog-handler of MDS-04 and his dog. The dog name is Taska with ID#269. The UXO was on the ground surface. When the dog was moving for search in a lane as proceeded about 4 meters from start point to the lane realized smell of a UXO changed its direction and returned back toward the UXO. At that time the dog had passed the UXO. Since The UXO was on the ground surface and the leash of the dog was loose, the leash touched the ground surface …

Mine Action Support Group Update, Stacy Davis

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article highlights the recent activities of the Mine Action Support Group from the first quarterly U.N. newsletter of 2006, including updates on the United Nations Mine Action Service, the United Nations Development Programme and UNICEF.

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.

Picking The Right Tool For The Right Task: Mine Clearance With The Minewolf Machine In Sudan, Christoph Frehsee

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 2005, Norwegian People’s Aid used the mechanical mine-clearance machine MineWolf to aid in the demining process in Yei, South Sudan. The MineWolf system combines both the tiller and flail systems. The mine clearance team overcame several challenges to transport the 25-ton machine to South Sudan. Once there, the MineWolf was used to clear over 280,000 square meters (69 acres) of land, including a school complex, a planned housing complex and a teacher-training centre.

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 …

Decade Of Service: The Maic Is 10!, Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The James Madison University Mine Action Information Center is celebrating 10 years of service to the mine action community. Director Dennis Barlow looks back on 10 years of accomplishments.

Opening Roads To Angola’S Future, Daniela Kempf

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Angola’s Road Threat Reduction Project, funded by the Humpty Dumpty Institute, cleared heavily mined roads in the country’s Planalto region. The project made safe travel possible among the over 200 small communities and other bordering nations. With help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and HALO Trust, HDI opened several roads for the Angolan people, creating new possibilities for the developing government.

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.

Ronco's Response To Explosive Remnants Of War In Post-Conflict Environments, Stacy L. Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

RONCO’s technical experts are dedicated to eliminating threats created by landmines and explosive remnants of war. Part of RONCO’s disposal process is creating local demining capacities in their host countries. As part of a quick response, RONCO has most recently added mine-action programs in Iraq and Afghanistan, creating a specialized explosive ordnance- disposal capacity in Afghanistan and establishing a bomb-disposal training school in Iraq.

Mines Awareness Trust In Eastern Africa, Nigel Howard

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mines Awareness Trust has been involved in many mine-action programmes that are aiding the mine-clearance process and improving the way of life for the people of eastern Africa. MAT has performed needs assessments in Uganda and has supervised the Ugandan Army. It has also developed a partnership with the International Mine Action Training Centre, which resulted in a state-of-the-art mine-detection dog training facility in Kenya. MAT’s collaboration with and assistance to eastern African organisations has put the area on the path to becoming mine safe.

Tajikistan Mine Action Programme, Jonmahmad Rajabov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Tajikistan Mine Action Centre is responsible for all mine-action-related programs in the country. The author details Tajikistan’s landmine problems and provides a report on TMAC’s progress in various aspects of mine action as well as its goals for future mine-related operations.

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.

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 …

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

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.