Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Ddasaccident570, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

When climbing up the hill, the EOD Team Member [Victim No.2] stepped on or against a sub-munition M77. It detonated and injured him. EOD Team Leader [Victim No.1] followed his Team Member at a distance of approximately 8 – 9 meters and was injured by the shrapnel of the detonated sub-munition.

Ddasaccident474, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The deminer was clearing a lane of the minefield (69270024) when he initiated a mine with his Heavy rake and the solidified layer of soil [crust] slid onto the mine. He did this by raking in the site and trying to remove the solidified layer. The mine was approximately 5cm deep and set into hard baked soil.

Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities, Unmas

Global CWD Repository

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (A/RES/61/106) was adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and was opened for signature on 30 March 2007 and entered into force on 3 May 2008. It is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century and is the first human rights convention to be open for signature by regional integration organizations.

The Convention has particular significance for mine action as it details the rights of survivors of mines and ERW. While the Convention does not identify new rights, …

Ddasaccident554, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

According to [the Victim] deminer that he was searching (removing the soft soil) which backhoe has prepared with a small shovel and he pulled out the bush where barbed wire existed, while he pulled the bushes suddenly an accident occurred.

Ddasaccident444, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 29 Oct 06 an accident involving a staff member of KEC (The Indian contractor currently engaged to refurbish the power-line) detonated a PMN2 AP whilst he was excavating at internal base of Tower No 60. Towers 60 and 62 are located in what was addressed as MF Code 01-0103-11-041 during the 1996 clearance. The [name removed] survey data of the time corroborates the information supplied by Mr [name removed] that some towers were considered clear and others were considered to be mined.

Ddasaccident503, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

As a result of the explosion the deminer received minor injuries to his left hand and crush injuries to his left arm plus a single wound (1 to 1.5cm) to his left thigh where a foreign body penetrated the muscle. The [National demining agency] doctor indicated this object to be a small stone. These injuries indicate that his left hand was close to the point of detonation and he was facing sideways to allow the foreign object to pass under his protective vest. This is not consistent with proper use of the prodder but could be said to be consistent …

Ddasaccident502, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Task no.007 started by [National demining agency] Sur.T-10 on 24-Sep-06 and it is ongoing (92%) but unfortunately on 12-11-2006 at 11:00am demining accident happened on [Victim No.1] Surveyor of [National demining agency] Sur. Team no. 10, while he was busy on excavation in the boundary lane. Generally Land type of the contaminated area is Grazing in accordance with the LIS information the mentioned community is accounted as high impact, including three suspected hazard areas (SHAs). This is a self Propelled (weedy) land for a kind of Vegetable using for medicine that is exported from Afghanistan to India ... which is …

Ddasaccident486, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 11.11.06 in the [International demining NGO] task No (1384) located in Bedak village of Gul Dam district of Kabul province suddenly a mine exploded in the lane of [the Victim] deminer who have the insurance No.3001 at 0730 hrs in the morning. At the same time the report of the accident was reported to the supervisor of the site and the Field doctor. Then the medics and the near by party started to help the injured person. After the completion of the First Aid at 0850 hrs in the morning they moved the injured person to the Emergency hospital …

Ddasaccident450, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The deminer was working in squatting position by portable shovel and was fully dressed with PPE while the accident happened. During 10 minutes the three steps of medical first aid was applied on the victim by the team nurse in the site then he was shifted at 10:15 hrs to the Bagram Airbase Hospital. Transfer of the victim from site to the hospital took 10 minutes and at 10:25 the victim was admitted to the hospital. For the time being the patient is under treatment in Miwand Governmental Hospital. The victim has just one trauma in his right hand. His …

The Rise Of Erw As A Threat To Civilians, Mohamed Taghioullah Ould Nema

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In this article, the author looks at the rise of landmines and ERW as military tactics from the First World War to current conflicts. The safety risk their presence poses and various measures to protect civilians are also discussed.

Increasing The Impact Of Mine-Action Surveys, Charles Downs

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

While mine-action surveys are an important tool in mine clearance, there are several challenges that must be overcome for survey results to be fully effective. Some of these changes include alterations in priority setting, information management and impact scoring. This article presents some potential obstacles to completing and evaluating mine-action surveys and proposes possible solutions to these challenges to increase their effectiveness and impact.

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.

Chechnya, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For the past 10 years, a violent conflict between the Russian military and Chechen rebels has resulted in accusations of kidnapping, rape, looting and other atrocities from both sides. Instances of violence constantly plague the Chechen population, including accidents involving unexploded ordnance and landmines.

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.

Explosive Remnants Of War And The Reality Of Azerbaijan, Nazim Ismaylov, Emil M. Hasanov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article explains the danger of explosive remnants of war when located within communities and the precautions that need to be taken in order to get rid of this problem. It also describes how the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action is trying to address the problem of abandoned ammunition storage in one of the most highly contaminated areas among existing abandoned ammunition storages in the world.

2006 Unmao Planning Process In Sudan, Hansie Heymans

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A national strategic framework for mine-action efforts in Sudan drives the development of several planning documents that involved several national and international organisations to ensure the successful implementation of a successful framework. The author discusses the development process for the various national mine-action planning documents.

Mine-Risk Education And The Amateur Scrap-Metal Hunter, Allan R. Vosburgh

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In many countries where landmines and unexploded ordnance threaten populations, people ignore warnings about these hazardous explosives to collect explosive remnants of war for the valuable scrap metal they contain. The author discusses a program proposed by the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation to manage this dangerous practice.

The Mine Action Express… Or The Wreck Of The ‘09, Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author discusses current challenges relating to an effective global mine action strategy; he considers approaches and policies that could enhance or impede demining efforts worldwide. There are many emerging concepts to consider in order to improve mine action, such as mainstreaming, risk management and national ownership. The author discusses potential future plans of action the community must undertake regarding these issues in order to deal effectively with landmines and explosive remnants of war.

Cambodia, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Cambodia is one of the countries most heavily contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance, a result of nearly three decades of conflict. The nation was occupied by the Japanese during World War II, and through the 1960s and 1970s Cambodia was involved in the Indochina Wars, seeing significant bombing. In 1975, the Khmer Rouge occupied Phnom Penh, taking over every town and city; they were not entirely removed from Cambodia until 1999. Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia in 1978 displaced the Khmer Rouge; the Vietnamese occupied Cambodia for 10 years, which invoked almost 13 years of civil war. Pol Pot, leader …

Finally, Safe Demining, Vinicius Souza, Maria Eugênia Sá

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Following a series of mistakes that caused hundreds of accidents—many fatal—a new battalion of the National Police of Peru now ensures demining quality for 1,711 power transmission towers.

The Killer Toy, Bounpheng Sisawath

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In June 2004, in the village of Nongsoung of the Paksong district in Champassak province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30-year-old Pheng and four of her five children went out to plant vegetables. At noontime, while she was cooking lunch for the children, three of them began playing with something she could not see. Shortly thereafter, villagers two kilometres (one mile) away heard the sound of an explosion coming from the direction of Pheng’s garden.

Imsma® Version 4: A Collaborative Approach, Daniele Ressler

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

From July 24 to 27, 2006, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining hosted a workshop in Murten, Switzerland, to introduce and discuss the release of the Information Management System for Mine Action version 4. Participants included management, operations and technology professionals involved in mine-action information management. During this workshop, results from IMSMA v4 pilot field tests were presented, v4 changes and innovations were explained, and a demonstration of IMSMA v4 with new handheld and Geographic Information System components was offered. IMSMA v4 reflects a collaborative effort to improve the accuracy and ease of mine-action information management in the field.

Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining provides operational assistance to mine-action programmes and operators, creates and disseminates knowledge, works to improve quality management and standards, and provides support to instruments of international law.

Information Management System For Mine Action In Sudan, Mohammad Kabir

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Information Management System for Mine Action is a globally used and internationally accepted database and software system that allows mine-action programmes to efficiently correlate and evaluate information. In addition, IMSMA provides powerful tools to rapidly disseminate information on hazardous areas and other important aspects of mine action by providing digital as well as printed maps and statistics.

Throwing Out Mines: The Effects Of A Flail, Ian Mclean, Rebecca Sargisson, Johannes Dirscherl, Håvard Bach

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The authors discuss a study conducted on flail machines to prove the effectiveness of this technology in destroying anti-personnel mines.

Minewolf Flail And Tiller Machines: Testing The Differences Between Two Demining Technologies, Heinz Rath, Dieter Schröder

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

MineWolf is the first demining concept, manufactured in Germany by Arthur Willibald Maschinenbau GmbH (AHWI), that overcomes the limitations of flail and tiller machines by combining the advantages of both systems. Extensive tests with live anti-tank and fragmentation mines were carried out at the German Army proving ground to determine whether the MineWolf meets the operational requirements for humanitarian demining. The aim was to discover the effects of detonations on the operator, MineWolf, clearing tools and cabin, and to work out instructions for reparability.

Guinea Bissau, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Past wars continue to haunt Guinea Bissau as remnants from previous conflicts are a constant reminder of what the country has undergone. Though the Liberation War lasted 11 years and finally ended in 1974, neighboring Senegal's internal conflict and Guinea Bissau's own civil war near the Casamance region would leave behind uglier scars.

The Aftermath Of War, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The recent conflict between Hezbollah and Israel resulted in many civilian victims and though the fighting has ended, the problems are nowhere near over for the civilians of Lebanon whose country is littered with cluster bomblets. This article explains the effects of the conflict on Lebanese civilians and describes how organizations are trying to eradicate the cluster-submunitions problem and provide aid to affected civilians.

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 10.2 (2006), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Editorial | Feature: Quality Assurance for Mined and Survey Areas | Focus: ERW: A Dangerous Legacy | Profiles | Making it Personal | Notes from the Field | Book Reviews | Research and Development | News Briefs

Lebanon, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Lebanon has suffered from decades of conflict and periods of foreign occupation, leaving the country riddled with landmines and other explosive remnants of war. In July 2006, the country found itself at the center of international attention with the start of a 34-day conflict between Israel and the militant Shiite group Hezbollah, which operates out of the southern part of Lebanon. Of particular concern has been the reported use of cluster munitions by the Israel Defense Forces—who launched strikes on positions in southern Lebanon suspected to be occupied by Hezbollah militants—and the lasting post-conflict effects of unexploded submunitions.