Emergency and Disaster Management Commons^™

Mine Spike: A Landmine Neutralisation Tool For Combat Scenarios, Brett Lowery

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Landmine clearance operations can be broadly categorised into two roles: military and humanitarian demining. Military operations often require a fast passage through minefields to maintain the tempo of advance. This is known as "breaching" and it involves either rapidly clearing mines from an intended route (for example by a mineplough) or marking the mines so they can be avoided. Other military scenarios may require the clearance of mines and UXO before setting up a military outpost. Once the main conflict and initial military clean-up has ended, humanitarian demining agencies move in to clear the area of mines and UXO, making …

Afghan Technical Consultants: A Brief Overview, Kefayatullah Eblagh

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Afghan Technical Consultants (ATC) was established in 1989 as the first humanitarian mine clearance organization sponsored by the United Nations. Through February 2004, ATC had cleared 82.4 sq km of high-priority mined areas and 192.7 sq km of former battlefields. During its 14 years of operations, ATC has located and destroyed a total of 3,437 anti-vehicle mines, 143,392 anti-personnel mines and 1,611,676 pieces of UXO. ATC currently employs nearly 2,000 personnel working in every region of Afghanistan.

After The Taliban: Opportunities And Challenges In Mine Action In Afghanistan, 2002–2003, Patrick Fruchet

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

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Serving Mine Action With Technology, Pehr Lodhammar

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA) is a Swedish governmental organization. It maintains a high level of emergency preparedness so that, with short notice, it can assist during international relief operations with specialist personnel and equipment. SRSA involvement in international mine action mainly supports Mine Action Coordination Centers (MACCs) through the United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS), where SRSA personnel hold positions within the MACC. SRSA has been contributing to research and development of new mine detection and clearance technology by concentrating on two specific projects: BIOSENS and DEMAND.

Humanitarian Demining Efforts In The Occupied Palestinian Territories, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In an August 2002 assessment of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that the following areas in the OPT are not properly fenced, marked or cleared:

• Minefields from the 1967 Middle East war—unmarked minefields were reportedly found between Jordan and the West Bank, in the Jordan Valley and in other strategic areas in the West Bank.
• Israeli military training zones.
• Areas of confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians.

Though no minefields have been officially declared in the Gaza Strip, Ayid Abu Qtaish, mine awareness coordinator of Defence for Children International (DCI), Palestine Section, has no …

Humanitarian Demining Within The American Continent: A Silent And Successful Reality, Colonel Mellado

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The objective of the Millennium Development plan of the United Nations is to "eradicate extreme poverty and hunger [and] guarantee the sustainability of the environment." Through the selfless efforts of the humanitarian demining programs in Central and South America by the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB), the preceding objectives are being accomplished. Thus, I am overwhelming compelled to share the successes and sing the praises of the personal sacrifices taken on by demining personnel.

Rethinking Humanitarian Demining For Coalition Forces, Tom Barnett, Kyle Shaffer

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

When you first arrive as a member of the Multinational Brigade North (MNB(N)), you are full of promise. You know your team of highly trained professional soldiers will make a difference in the lives of those that live in BiH. Then it sets in. Your six-month tour of duty doesn’t allow you time to finish what you start. So what is it you can do to make a difference in only six months? This is the exact question that started the process of developing the National Guard Demining Initiative in BiH. This initiative was undertaken by the U.S. Army National …

International Conference Sheds Light On Mine Action Trends And Concerns, Jan Cornelis, Hichem Sahli

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

During the "International Conference on Requirements and Technologies for the Detection, Removal and Neutralization of Landmines and UXO" held in Brussels September 15–18, 2003, many global viewpoints and models emerged from the discussions. Some of the ideas triggered strong emotional reactions during the conference. Several of the new ideas might have a short lifetime; others have the potential of forcing breakthroughs; and all of them are subject to further debate.

Jaipur Foot Camp Brings Renewed Hope To Landmine Victims In Kabul, Mahendra Mehta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A 23-year-old girl and resident of Kabul, Afghanistan, lost both of her legs in a landmine explosion. After the accident, she felt like a burden to her family. Through an advertisement on television, Faribo heard about the Jaipur Foot Camp and decided to see what it had to offer her. At the camp, she received a light and comfortable prosthesis.

Where Technology And Field Information Meet: The Metal Detector Handbook, Dieter Guelle, Andy Smith, A.M. Lewis, T.J. Bloodworth

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Metal Detector Handbook for Humanitarian Demining explains what all operators need to know about modern metal detectors. If trying to test, select or simply use a detector to its optimal ability, this handbook will show the user exactly what is needed. The handbook is in pocket A5 format and is resistant to field use.

The Military In Peacekeeping Operations, Bob Kudyba, Andrea Poelling

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 2003, the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) Mine Action Coordination Center (MACC) implemented a revised work plan that focused on mandate-specific activities and UNMEE Peacekeeping Force (PKF) demining assets. The novel and successful integration of the Force Mine Action Centre (FMAC) with the MACC represents a first in UN peacekeeping history, as Force demining assets are now coordinated by a single body and they work to International Mine Action Standards (IMAS). Unanticipated national events in mine action in Eritrea in 2002 prompted an opportune moment for the UNMEE MACC to demonstrate the key role that military …

Mine Action Training In Argentina, Carlos Nielsen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Argentina has always relied on its military with respect to demining. At the same time, the government has continually taken an active role in promoting the use of military mine clearance throughout the international community. For instance, in 1993, three officers and one non-commissioned officer (NCO) were sent as a team, supervised by the Organization of American States (OAS), to Nicaragua. There they took the role of training the Nicaraguan army in different mine clearance techniques.

Maic: Iraq Ordnance Identification Guide, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Iraq Ordnance Identification Guide on the James Madison University Mine Action Information Center (JMU MAIC) website provides information gathered from UXO research about how to "...facilitate international unexploded ordnance (UXO) awareness and identification." The Iraq Ordnance Identification Guide is sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense: Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC), funded by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), and prepared by Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NAVEODTECHDIV). The guide is provided by the JMU MAIC.

Erw: States Conclude A Protocol, Paul Ellis

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In November 2003, the States Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) met in Geneva and agreed to the creation of a fifth protocol on explosive remnants of war (ERW). This new international humanitarian law is designed to minimise the risks and effects of ERW in the post-conflict period.

Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As the theme of this edition of the Journal of Mine Action is about the use of the military in mine action, I would like to remind readers of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) publication titled "The Role of the Military in Mine Action." This study was originally requested by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and completed in mid-2003. The study found that over the past 15 years, military forces—both local and visiting—have made a significant contribution to mine action.

New Training Tools: Enhancing Mine Detection Performance, Daniel Hartmen, Dean Carhoun, Herman Herman

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The effectiveness and proficiency with which a handheld buried ordnance detection system operates is contingent on two properties: the detection capabilities of the sensor and the operator's skill in manipulating it while interpreting meaning from its audio output. With recent advancements in buried ordnance location technology, adding ground penetrating radar (GPR) with electro-magnetic induction (EMI) sensing places much greater importance on detector sweep motion as a prerequisite to improve detection and reduce false alarm performance. Proper operation requires the user to sweep an area completely without gaps, with the detector head motion controlled within proper speed and height above ground …

The Ottawa Convention In Perspective, Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Seldom has a name caused such polarity among like-minded people, in this case those concerned with mine action. The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) of 1997, commonly called the "Mine Ban Treaty," or more often the "Ottawa Treaty," is loved by some—loathed by others. To some it is the lynchpin of mine action activities, to others it is a distracter from pragmatic mine action challenges. Some will not take action against mines without "it" being invoked, others will not take action if "it" is invoked.

Jordan's Military In Mine Action, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Jordan is a country rich in history and beauty. Throughout the years, with the increase of tensions in the Middle East, Jordan has been forced to protect its borders. As a result, Jordan has become a major actor in the mine action community and has taken a different approach by promoting the use of its military for demining and its non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for rehabilitation and mine awareness.

The Quick Reaction Demining Force: The United States' Response To Humanitarian Demining Crises, Hayden Roberts

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Humanitarian crises, particularly crises in which landmines are involved, may occur without warning and require an immediate response. Examples of such crises include Hurricane Mitch, which struck Central America in 1988, the rapid, post-air war return of refugees to mine-infested Kosovo in 1999, and tropical cyclones Hudah and Eline that ravaged Mozambique in 2000, displacing thousands of landmines. To respond to such emergency situations quickly and efficiently, the United States developed a Quick Reaction Demining Force (QRDF).

The U.S. Department Of Defense Humanitarian Demining Training Center: A Center Of Excellence, Lloyd Carpenter, Paul Arcangeli, Rodney Robideau

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Humanitarian mine action (HMA) is a field known for its paradigm shifts. Just as technological advances create more efficient and less expensive alternatives to old products and methodologies, emerging technologies offer newer and safer ways to detect landmines. Integrating these advances into the HMA community and thereby the training curriculum, is one challenge faced by the staff of the U.S. Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining Training Center (HDTC).