Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 31 - 60 of 147

Full-Text Articles in Defense and Security Studies

The Halo Trust, Cisr Journal Nov 2009

The Halo Trust, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The HALO Trust has actively been working to reduce existing landmines across the globe. Guy Willoughby, the founder of HALO, has focused on creating fast responses to landmine problems. With help from increased donations, HALO will be able to make more countries mine-impact free within the coming years using a variety of techniques.


In Remembrance: Femisberto Novele, Cisr Journal Nov 2009

In Remembrance: Femisberto Novele, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Femisberto Novele, a member of Mine Action Centre in Cyprus, was killed by an anti-tank explosion on 28 October 2009. Novele, 48, was working in Yeri, only 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) southeast of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. A native of Mozambique, Novele is the first death MACC has suffered during its five years of working on the island, although nine people, including civilians and deminers, were injured in 2008.


The Rapid Response To Operation Cast Lead, Elena Rice Nov 2009

The Rapid Response To Operation Cast Lead, Elena Rice

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

When the United Nations Mine Action Service was asked to assess the need for a mine-action presence in the Gaza Strip following Operation Cast Lead, a 23-day conflict involving the Israeli Defence Forces and Palestinian militias in 2008, it was thrust into one of the world’s most complicated humanitarian operating environments. This article provides a background for the mine-action program in Gaza, summarizing the key challenges and lessons learned during the first four months of operations in this complex environment.


Insight Into Gis Usage In Dangerous Area Survey, Penelope Caswell Nov 2009

Insight Into Gis Usage In Dangerous Area Survey, Penelope Caswell

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Western Sahara’s 16-year conflict with Morocco caused widespread contamination from landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Landmine Action is a U.K.-based nonprofit organization that has conducted survey, marking and clearance activities in Polisario-controlled areas of Western Sahara since 2006. Its main goals are to make these areas safer for the people of Western Sahara, to reduce risks and land denial caused by contamination, and to successfully carry out humanitarian demining.


Masg Update, Cisr Journal Nov 2009

Masg Update, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article highlights the recent activities of the Mine Action Support Group, including updates on the United Nations Mine Action Service, the United Nations Development Programme and UNICEF. It is excerpted from the United Nations’ newsletter covering the period from March to May 2009.


Sri Lanka: Mine Action In A Deteriorating Environment, Chris Rush Nov 2009

Sri Lanka: Mine Action In A Deteriorating Environment, Chris Rush

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A major mine-action program has been underway in Sri Lanka since 2002, when a cease-fire agreement between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was signed. However, after a seemingly inexorable escalation in violence between the LTTE and the government forces, open warfare resumed, and in May 2009, the government announced that it had achieved military victory over the LTTE. This article traces the various ways that the increase in conflict affected mine-action activities in Sri Lanka.


Ddasaccident596, Hd-Aid Nov 2009

Ddasaccident596, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The clearance operation on mentioned task was started by [Demining group] DT-12 on 1st of November 09. On 10th of November 09 at 07:40, while the second break period started, the team leader of the team asked a deminer for his scraper and then walked down to a clearance lane without informing any other team members of his intention. On 07:42 Team leader initiated a POMZ mine causing him to receive the injuries that led to his death. He ignored his job description and the [Demining group] SOPs. He may have been thinking that this POMZ is of no danger, …


Ddasaccident620, Hd-Aid Nov 2009

Ddasaccident620, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 5th Nov 2009 at 08:45 am deminer [Victim No.1] was working in his clearance lane: he was removing excavated soil from the target spot that suddenly his excavation tool touched a mine and caused it to go off. As a result of the accident, the deminer got severe injuries to his face, eyes and left hand (lost his one eye).


Ddasaccident601, Hd-Aid Nov 2009

Ddasaccident601, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 1st Nov 2009, at 02:45 pm during the rest time, [the Victim] a deminer of mentioned team found an unknown item and tried to touch it. According to the investigation report, the item was a rifle Grenade of 40mm which was exploded as a result of irresponsible action of the victim deminer. As it was the break time of the team and the deminer was without visor and PPE, therefore, he lost his right hand, left eye and sustained jaw and leg fracture.


Ddasaccident708, Hd-Aid Oct 2009

Ddasaccident708, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The 39-year-old [the Victim], a MACC member from Mozambique, died after an anti-tank mine exploded at approximately 8am yesterday in a minefield near Yeri, some 10 kilometres south-east of Nicosia.


Ddasaccident646, Hd-Aid Oct 2009

Ddasaccident646, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 11 Oct 2009 at 12:15 am while [the Victim] deminer was excavating a detected signal in his clearance lane, his bayonet hit top of an anti-personnel mine and caused it to go off. According to the investigation report, it seems that the deminer started the excavation drill directly from the centre of the detected signal by his bayonet and caused the mine to be exploded. The deminer had the PPE and visor but as the visor was not properly used so he got some superficial injuries on his face, eyes.


Ddasaccident641, Hd-Aid Oct 2009

Ddasaccident641, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 10 Oct 2009 at 11:20 hrs when [the Victim] deminer was working in his clearance lane with a pickaxe that suddenly an explosion happened. As per investigation report the deminer was using pickaxe instead of bayonet because the ground surface was hard. He started to prepare a trench by pickaxe from second reading marker for further investigation of the signal, but there was a stone in close vicinity of pinpointed spot and the deminer wanted to remove it, so his pickaxe might touched the PMN mine or the stone put extra pressure on the mine and the explosion happened. …


Ddasaccident613, Hd-Aid Oct 2009

Ddasaccident613, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 04 Oct 2009 at 08:35 hrs when [the Victim] deminer was working on a signal in his clearance lane using a pickaxe, he hit the mine on its top and caused it to go off. According to the investigation report the ground surface was hard and the deminer was using the pick without informing his section leader with a wrong procedure for excavation of the detected signal, and caused the mine to be exploded. As a result of the accident, the involve deminer got superficial injures on his face and body.


Ddasaccident701, Hd-Aid Sep 2009

Ddasaccident701, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

While the deminer was working in recovering one of the SMLs in Al Akaider 2 laid with 15 AP mines (M14) and after recovering 9 mines from the same SML and locating a signal in the predicted site for the 10th mine, the signal was strong and continuous which confused the deminer and there is no way to pin point an M14 mine at that area, the deminer start excavating the area from a depth for 40 cm using the heavy RAKE , the soil at that area hard that the deminer was using the RAKE in a hacking motion …


Ddasaccident670, Hd-Aid Sep 2009

Ddasaccident670, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

While the deminer was working in his lane by the end of the working day, he tried to move one AP (M35) mine partially covered in the ground against of the TL instructions using the light RAKE, the mine initiated 1.8 m away from the deminer and caused the wounds and the mentioned injures to the deminer that he wasn’t wearing the visor in the proper way


Ddasaccident657, Hd-Aid Sep 2009

Ddasaccident657, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 14 September 2009, a deminer of CBDT-06 was busy in his clearance lane, he detected an unknown device and informed his respective section leader who had 18 year demining experience to check it. The section leader took the device with his left hand from the clearance lane, he started to remove the soil from it, but in this time it was exploded and caused injuries to his left hand fingers. Unprofessional dealing with unknown device caused this accident.


Ddasaccident628, Hd-Aid Sep 2009

Ddasaccident628, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Deminer was clearing the first 60 cm of one cluster heading toward the centre mine after he cleared the 1st 60 cm by one 1m width with no signals he moved his base stick a head to clear the next 60 cm, then he stepped on the area which considered to be cleared by the same deminer, accidently his foot went down due to the soil collapse under his foot (loose soil), the mine was in a depth of about 30 cm that when the deminer foot dived in the loosen soil he applied a pressure on the mine which …


Ddasaccident702, Hd-Aid Aug 2009

Ddasaccident702, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 28 July 2009 at 08:10 hrs when Ahmed de-miner was working on a signal in his clearance lane by using a pickaxe instead of bayonet, he hit the mine on its top and caused it to go off. According to the investigation report the ground surface was uneven, hard and impossible to work in sitting position, so he has started to investigate the signal in standing position. This was the main reason of initiating mine and accident.


Endnotes Issue 13.2, Cisr Journal Aug 2009

Endnotes Issue 13.2, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Endnotes Issue 13.2


Gender And Land Release: The Responsibility Of The Mine-Action Community, Marie Nilsson, Virginie Rozes, Juliane Garcia Aug 2009

Gender And Land Release: The Responsibility Of The Mine-Action Community, Marie Nilsson, Virginie Rozes, Juliane Garcia

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In many countries, men are considered the sole landowners, leaving women with few property rights. Yet women are disproportionately affected when men are killed or injured by landmines, as they can be left with few resources after such tragedies.


Survey And Land Release: Lessons From Recent Country Experience, Charles Downs Aug 2009

Survey And Land Release: Lessons From Recent Country Experience, Charles Downs

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Suspected Hazardous Areas bring fear to local communities and hinder socioeconomic development, but in most cases the majority of the land contains no mines at all. Survey for land release may put an end to this fear, and it allows for an accelerated solution to the landmine problem.


The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 13.2 (2009), Cisr Journal Aug 2009

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 13.2 (2009), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Annual Issue: Land Cancellation and Release


Reflections From The Field: Lao Pdr, Surveys And Land Release, Stephen Pritchard Aug 2009

Reflections From The Field: Lao Pdr, Surveys And Land Release, Stephen Pritchard

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With an example and a discussion of Norwegian People’s Aid’s work with UXO Lao in Lao PDR, the author explains how choosing the right tasks and performing the tasks correctly can allow land to be released safely and confidently.


Land Cancellation And Release, Parvis Mavlonkulov Aug 2009

Land Cancellation And Release, Parvis Mavlonkulov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Initial surveying and resurveying of areas contaminated with mines are imperative processes in the Land Cancellation and Release process in Tajikistan, where estimates indicate thousands of acres of Suspected Hazardous Areas. It is necessary to re-survey contaminated areas to ensure accurate results. Even with limited funds, the Tajikistan Mine Action Centre has made great efforts to release the land and promote mine-risk education, victim assistance, and capacity building.


Clearing Areas Right; Clearing The Right Areas, Håvard Bach Aug 2009

Clearing Areas Right; Clearing The Right Areas, Håvard Bach

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Although land release is a widely used term, its definition is not universally understood. There are various approaches to mine clearance with different survey steps taken before conditions of safe land release are met, and some techniques are more efficient than others. This article examines ways of improving land-release methodology to more effectively define and ultimately resolve the landmine problem.


Is It Time For New Terminology In Land Release And Technical Survey?, Robert Keeley Aug 2009

Is It Time For New Terminology In Land Release And Technical Survey?, Robert Keeley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Overlapping terminology has contributed to confusion in the demining process and stunted the development of Technical Survey as a potentially effective concept. This article points out places where ambiguity exists and suggests ways that the terminology can be clarified.


A Conversation About Land Cancellation And Release With H. Murphey “Murf” Mccloy, John Stevens Aug 2009

A Conversation About Land Cancellation And Release With H. Murphey “Murf” Mccloy, John Stevens

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Land Cancellation and Release in mine action is looked at by many experts as the next logical step to the safe and time-effective return of mined areas. This interview examines the benefits of the land-release method and addresses its criticisms.


Land-Release Policies And Human-Security Complexities, Kjell Bjork Aug 2009

Land-Release Policies And Human-Security Complexities, Kjell Bjork

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article reviews the need for transparency and community participation in the land-release process. Participation is a fundamental part of post-war reconstruction, and the author argues that combining reconstruction with transparent participation will contribute to the quality, accountability and national ownership of the land-release process.


Could Local Agricultural Machines Make A Country ‘Impact Free’ By 2010?, Emanuela Cepolina, Matteo Zoppi Aug 2009

Could Local Agricultural Machines Make A Country ‘Impact Free’ By 2010?, Emanuela Cepolina, Matteo Zoppi

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Many countries affected by landmines are also facing food crises, underscoring the necessity of cost-effective mine removal. Converting agricultural machines already available in many mine-affected countries for use on mine-action projects saves not only time but also money by speeding up the removal process and turning the land back into an agricultural resource.


Making Land Release In Mozambique Operational, Antonio Belchior, Charles Downs Aug 2009

Making Land Release In Mozambique Operational, Antonio Belchior, Charles Downs

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mozambique’s national program for land release has cleared many Suspected Hazardous Areas in the past eight years, but the Instituto Nacional de Desminagem (National Demining Institute) aims to make the program even more effective. In March 2009, IND collaborated with the Survey Action Center to host a workshop at which land release terminology and concepts were discussed, hoping that improved survey methodologies would lead to a more efficient land-release process. The workshop resulted in the creation of national land-release draft elements and criteria that will help to develop practical land-release standards in the near future.