Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

No Wizards, Just Patient Teachers, Bart Weetjens, Jina Kim

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

APOPO is a Belgian-African nongovernmental organization that trains rats to be at new mine-detection tool. The authors describe the basic idea behind this unique concept.

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.

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 …

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 10.1 (2006), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Feature: Explosive Remnants of War | Focus: Africa | Profiles | Making it Personal | Notes from the Field | Research and Development

Tied Campaigns: Cluster Munitions, Explosive Remnants Of War And Anti-Personnel Landmines, Robin Collins

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The cluster munitions campaign, following the precedent of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, is beginning to make an impact on state views of banning or restricting cluster munitions. This article examines the history behind the fight to ban or restrict cluster munitions and its ties to the ICBL. The author also discusses the most recent developments in the process to ban or restrict cluster bombs.

Mines And Erw, Bob Kudyba

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Due to the history and nature of conflicts in the Ethiopia/Eritrea area, cleanup presents specific considerations and hazards. The lessons learned by the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea Mine Action Coordination Centre in mine/explosive remnants of war cleanup are presented, as well as recommendations on clearance operations for situations with mixed mine/ ERW like that in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

A Primer On Explosive Remnants Of War, Daniele Ressler

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This primer reviews the legal and functional understandings regarding explosive remnants of war, particularly after the adoption of Protocol V in the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. It examines the tensions between the legal definition of ERW and the reality on the ground, and recommends clarifying the terms that bind post-conflict clearance efforts to ensure the greatest effectiveness of those campaigns

Medical Challenges In Sudan, Adam Kushner

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Working with Médecins du Monde, Dr. Kushner spent 12 weeks with a mission in Malakal, Sudan. This article, written as a journal, is his account of the first six weeks. Through his work, Dr. Kushner has helped many and witnessed the impressive ability of doctors in Malakal to work in stressful and sub-par conditions. He also came face to face with the cholera crisis and worked to get support and supplies for a second Cholera Treatment Center site.

Power Tillers And Snails For Demining In Sri Lanka, Emanuela Cepolina

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This paper presents a project the author has been working on since January 2005 in the context of her doctoral research and offers some of the first results. The topic concerns the participatory design and development of a distributed system for humanitarian-demining operations in Sri Lanka. The completed research is expected to encompass the relationship among landmines, humanitarian technologies and development. This article looks at the adaptation of power tillers for demining applications in Sri Lanka using a participatory design methodology called the Snail System.

U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research And Development Program (Hd R&D), Anders Jansson, Marcel E. Durocher

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The anti-tank mine threat on access roads in eastern Angola is the greatest impediment to infrastructural rehabilitation, economic recovery and social development in that area. The authors discuss the method and equipment used by DanChurchAid to verify and clear roads in Moxico and Lunda Sul provinces.

Endnotes, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Endnotes

Angola Project, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Roots of Peace, based in California, was founded in 1997 by Heidi Kuhn with the goal of freeing the world from landmines. The organization takes a unique approach to mine clearance, turning minefields into farmland. Currently, Roots of Peace is working on two projects in southeastern Angola. A 26-year civil war resulted in landmines and unexploded ordnance being scattered throughout the country and also created an unstable economy. Roots of Peace is working with Conservation International to clear access corridors for elephants and with World Vision to help Angola increase agricultural production.

Ddasaccident452, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The Deminer was using mine detector. In result, 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 started for more excavation, suddenly the mine detonated. In result, he got injured on his right hand index finger and in palm.

Ddasaccident550, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

According to Mr. [Name removed] Team leader of MCT-05 and Mr. [Name removed] section leader of section No 03 of MCT-05 that [The victim] deminer was doing prodding/excavating on the signal of F3 detector according to the [International demining company] SOP, most probably due to changing/tilting the mine position, it detonated during the prodding/excavation.

Ddasaccident476, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At 11:40 Hrs one of the deminers of No-4 section [the Victim] while working in lane No-6, hit a mine on the top and resulted in a mine blast and he sustained minor injury in his right arm and eyes were filled with loose sand.

Ddasaccident556, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At approximately 10:22 08 July 2006 a demining accident occurred in the North Western area of A6/A4 mine line. A suspected PMN-2 detonated resulting in injuries to [the Victim], who sustained lacerations to his right hand/wrist area, and minor abrasions to right lower leg.

Ddasaccident528, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

This accident classification is “Other” because there is not enough information to determine what was going on at the time. The primary cause of this accident is listed as “Other” because there is not enough information to determine any cause for the accident. The secondary cause is listed as a “Management control inadequacy” because the management of the demining group declined to make the accident details available. Although this is sometimes done to protect the Victims, in this case the Victims’ names were among the limited detail made available. It is possible that the managers have chosen to avoid transparency …

Mid-Term Review Of The Undp Integrated Mine Action Programme (Imap), Gichd

Global CWD Repository

The break-up of Yugoslavia led to the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, which resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, massive displacement, and widespread landmine contamination. There was no clear victor in the conflict, and the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) established a loose confederal structure, with a weak central government (the State), two Entities (the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska or RS) and, within the Federation, ten cantons (each with its own constitution). Because of the danger of renewed conflict, NATO fielded an Implementation Force (IFOR) to enforce the military provisions of the GFAP, while the broader international community …

Water, Development, And State Security In South Asia: Scenarios For China And India, Ray Chandrasekara, John M. Polimeni

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

Conflict over water resources is rare and has not occurred for thousands of years. However, the dynamics in South Asia are changing so rapidly that a conflict in the not-so-near future may be unavoidable. Water shortages could have the nonlinear effects of food shortages, political instability, migration problems, and diminished economic growth. All of these factors, caused by water shortages, could be a driver of conflict in the region, causing territorial disputes. Global instability would be sure to follow as both the U.S., attempting to protect their national security interests, and China, reacting as the regional power, tries to intervene. …

Ddasaccident513, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 20/06/06, the team was normally working in the site. [The Victim] a deminer of party -3-, section-02, MCT-08, on whom the accident occurred was working in a ditch in which sediment soils has been shifted gradually by water. The work procedure adopted by the team command group for the ditch was full excavation with unspecified clearance depth till original surface of the ground, the deminer has assumed that there is no longer any danger and it may be the original surface, therefore he has changed the full excavation method to signal picking and has ignored the full excavation. Proceeding …

Ddasaccident448, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The deminer had worked in the task site for a total of 25 days, was familiar with the slightly sloping terrain where he was working and he was working well in the lead up period to the accident. There were no witnesses to the accident except for the Section Leader, who was located at his control-point and who noticed two flashes in the vicinity of the accident.

Ddasaccident527, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Date and country. [Name removed] - Fractured skull, head/facial injuries. Mine explosion - No.4A a/p mine. Mine exploded during excavation. Excavating on steep terrain believed possibly a former earth slide, falling rocks etc. could have caused a disturbance of the mine leading to a severely decreased activation force.

Ddasaccident453, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Based the [Demining Group] OPS Officer verbal report the injured Deminer was during the prodding /excavation at Task No 1182 located in Lataband village of Talucian district to initiating the Anti Personal AP mine when the prodder touched with a sensitive part of this old buried AP mine and blow up, as per the explanations of OPS Officer the deminer was well [protected] with PPE that is cause he has not received a serious injury. [The deminer may lose a hand.]

Ddasaccident498, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 03 July 2006 the team as usual started operation at 06:00 am. Deminer[the Victim] a deminer of section 1, party 1 also started to work as other members of the team at that day. At the outset of operation while the deminer was working on a located signal a PMN-2 exploded in the result the deminer was seriously wounded.

To Walk The Earth In Safety 6th Edition (Fy2004 And 2005), Us Dos Pm/Wra

Global CWD Repository

This sixth edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety summarizes the accomplishments of the inter-agency U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program for fiscal years 2004 and 2005. In a strict sense, it is a combined annual report for two years on what was then and still is the world’s largest such program. But it is also a chapter in a real-life story that has a beginning, middle, and, we now know because of more than fifteen years of practical experience, an end.

Public safety and regional stability can be endangered by illegally traffi cked small arms and light weapons, abandoned …

Do We Stand On Common Ground? A Threat Appraisal Model For Terror Alerts Issued By The Department Of Homeland Security, Augustine Pang, Jin Yan, Glen T. Cameron

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The fabric and faces of threat, and the expediency and efficiency in the communication of threat, are examined with a threat appraisal model. This model is empirically tested on an ongoing communication challenge, the issuance of terror alerts by the United States' Department of Homeland Security (DHS), focusing on how threat is appraised by both the conservative and liberal audiences. Findings showed a shared view by the DHS and conservative audiences on the levels and nature of threats; liberal audiences thought otherwise. Though there appeared to be a consensus between the conservative and liberal audiences on the efficacy of threat …

Ddasaccident555, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

During demining operations, a mine was involuntarily detonated in a mine line in the vicinity of Alpha 4 and Alpha 6 at approximately 7.28am. One deminer was involved and sustained injuries: the deminer was immediately taken to Camp Lacey US military hospital.

Ddasaccident551, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 24 May 2006, at 1045 hrs a PMN-02 detonated on [the Victim] deminer of MDG-18 while he was excavating a located signal. The located signal was a dispositioned PMN--2 mine. The deminer received multiple minor injuries on his face and also soils and smoke entered the eyes of the injured deminer. All steps of medical first aid were applied on the victim by the team medic. His eyes were washed by saline serum in the site as the soils and the dusts were removed from his eyes by the team medic then he was shifted to the Bagram Air …

Ddasaccident492, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Based the [International demining NGO] OPS Officer verbal report the injured Deminer was during the prodding /excavation at Task No 1144 in Khoja Kamal e Wali area to initiating the unexploded Garnet when the prodder touched with a sensitive part of this buried fuse and blow up, as per the explanations of OPS Officer he was recognized the initiation of fuse for explosion when take a special sound for its readiness so Deminer started to gotten away when the garnet exploded and the fragments beached to his body specially in his hand , shoulder and leg.

Ddasaccident508, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Deminer [Name removed] starts his work after the guidance of his section leader. As the working was going on and he got a signal on his detector he marked the signal and start the prodding/excavation after the prodding/excavation he discovered a PMN/AP mine and marked it then informed his section leader and subsequently the team leader. Then injured deminer [the Victim] start to [do] the detecting. After a while he got tired and went to drink the water. After coming starts the work again and he was returning back in the working line to mark the cleared/working line, during this …