Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

Mine Action In Cambodia, Tim Grant

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

During the past five years, I have worked in four different mine awareness programs. The first was in 1990 with the Land Mine Awareness Programme (LMAP) whose mandate was to reach the Cambodian refugee camps on the Thai/Cambodian border. LMAP was the first mine awareness program to operate in the South East Asian region and was run through the International Rescue Committee (IRC) with funding by the Office of the U.N. Secretary General for the Coordination of Cambodian Humanitarian Assistance Programs.

Operation: Mine Awareness-Thailand, Katie Shepard

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Years of conflict along the borders of Thailand have resulted in countless landmines buried along the Thai-Cambodia, Thai-Laos, Thai-Malaysia and Thai-Myanmar borders. The number of booby-traps, UXO and landmines in Thailand is unknown. Surveys made by the Royal Thai Army and Navy indicate that the land of 19 provinces are landmine-infested. Approximately, 796 square kilometers of the land cannot be utilized, affecting the livelihood of 400,000 people residing in these areas.

The Mine Action Process, James Trevelyan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

There are three ways to improve the mine action process to allow displaced people to return to their land sooner and with less risk of injury. Naturally, a major increase in aid funding would achieve a similar result using the existing process. Three main avenues to achieve improved outcomes with the same level of funding are as follows:

• Improving the technology, cost effectiveness and reliability of the mine clearance process,
• Applying risk management approaches to manage mine contamination problems, and
• Utilizing local resources and seeking alternative sources of funding more effectively.

Integrated Mine Action: A Collective Approach To Mine Awareness, Margaret S. Busé

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

An Interview with Andy Wheatley, Community Liaison Manager, Mines Advisory Group (MAG) by Margaret Busé, MAIC

James Madison University's Mine Awareness Program (Map) In Quang Tri Province, Jason Sims

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The U.S. Department of State Humanitarian Demining Program Office (PM/HDP), in an effort to help establish a sustainable mine action program in Vietnam, sponsored the Mine Awareness Project (MAP) in Quang Tri Province, the site of the former demilitarized zone. The MAIC at JMU was tasked to pursue that goal as an activity of the Non-Proliferation, Anti-Terrorism and Demining-related (NADR) fund. JMU was asked to plan, coordinate, and implement various activities, which would constitute an educational program designed to help families living in this province avoid the dangers of latent landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Overview Of Mine Awareness Programs In Kosovo & Somaliland, Colonel L. Dyck, Bob Macpherson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since September 1999, CARE, working with its mine action partner, MineTech, has been engaged in a mine awareness project in Kosovo.

Superman To The Rescue, But Can He Teach Mine Awareness?, Margaret S. Busé

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

When Wonder Woman and Superman joined forces to promote mine awareness for children through the efforts of the U.S. Department of Defense, DC Comics and UNICEF, the landmine community was divided as to the usefulness, and ultimately, the success of the effort. Originally released in Bosnia in 1996, a second comic book in Spanish was released for children in Latin America in 1998. A third comic book was developed for children of Mozambique but a release date for the book is not scheduled. Currently, the Kosovo version of the comic book is being released in the school system through UNICEF …

Implementing Landmine Awareness Programs, Eric Filippino

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Among the wider mine action community, recognition is steadily growing of the need to incorporate socio-economic data and analysis into the planning, prioritization and evaluation of mine action. Shifting the focus away from the achievement of straightforward targets of land cleared or numbers of mines removed onto improving the lives of communities threatened by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) represents a major change in mine action thinking. Mine awareness, which also seeks to integrate socio-economic analysis into its work can play an important role in rounding out this concept.

Child-To-Child Trust: A Child-Oriented Approach To Landmine Education, Virginia Saulnier

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Placing children’s issues at the forefront of its agenda, the Child-to-Child Trust promotes the physical and mental well-being of children throughout the world. Operating under the umbrella of the University of London’s Institute of Education and Institute of Child Health, the trust has assumed this position since its inception in 1979, the international year of the Child, and has been active in over 80 nations. The trust’s objectives include “protecting and preserving the health of communities worldwide by encouraging and enabling children and young people to play an active and responsible role in the health and development of themselves, other …

It's Been A Hard Day's Night, Jake Macdonald

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Before heading out for a day's work, the deminers and EOD men gather every morning to drink coffee at a downtown Pristina bar called The Kukri. By 8 a.m. a festive crowd has gathered, and you could easily be in some college town cappuccino bar, except that half the people in the room are wearing U.N. shoulder patches and automatic pistols. On this particular autumn morning, the Texas Rangers are having coffee with the Fijians, the Bobbies are raking tea with some carabinieri, and the Zambians are talking shop with the OPP. It's sunny again, and everyone seems to be …

Making Strides: Students Tackle The Landmine Awareness Problem, Virginia Saulnier

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Extending beyond the normal boundaries of education, a growing number of educators are widening their students’ knowledge base to include the landmine crisis plaguing multiple countries, thereby raising the global consciousness of this humanitarian problem. Commendably, students around the world are assuming an active role in the crisis, aware of the potential damage waiting to strike at the heart of their generation, as landmines and UXO annually claim numerous children as victims. Teachers, employing accepted pedagogical techniques, are educating their students about the devastation inflicted by mines and UXO by introducing them to landmine oriented magazines and literature. Teacher Mark …

Alternatives To Anti-Personnel Landmines, Keith Feigenbaum

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The complexity of the issue of alternatives to AP landmines is great from both a humanitarian and a technical standpoint. Stances on this issue seem to range from the substantive and supported (by research and field experience) and the reactionary (i.e., unbending humanitarianism). When the differing stances are considered, the one conclusion that can be drawn is the need for the discovery of a middle ground. That is, given current levels of technology, what can be done to end the suffering of the innocent while protecting the combatant?

The Utilization Of Level One Survey Data For Mine Awareness, Justin Brady

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With its conclusion in July 2000 and certification a month later, the level one landmine survey in Yemen has provided the Yemeni authorities with a wealth of reliable information from which to plan and prioritize activities. For many people this means planning for mine clearance, but the utility of the level one data goes far beyond clearance. It also provides a foundation for all aspects of mine action, including mine awareness. Yemen is the first country to successfully complete the new level one format in cooperation with the U.N. Mine Action Service (UNMAS), U.N. Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and …

Developing And Expanding Mine Awareness Programs, Roger Hess

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

An assessment of mine awareness programs.

Youth Supervisors Trained In Mine Awareness In Jordan, Jason Sims

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Landmine Survivors Network (LSN) made an agreement with the Jordan Ministry of Social Development to facilitate mine awareness throughout the year 2000. For a week in August, youth center supervisors from throughout Jordan attended Mine Risk Education Training in Aqaba, Jordan. The LSN facilitated the workshop with cooperation from Rädda Barnen and the Royal Jordanian Army Corps of Engineers. All 60 of the youth center supervisors in Jordan were invited to attend the mine awareness training. A total of 44 Jordanian Youth Center Supervisors attended the workshop, 13 females and 31 males. Personnel from Rädda Barnen of Yemen conducted …

The Journal Of Mine Action Issue 4.3 (2000), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine Awareness | Notes from the Field | Organization Profiles

Hurricane Mitch Jet Stream, Juan Carlos Ruan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In October-November 1998, Hurricane Mitch wreaked havoc upon the Caribbean and parts of Central America. The damage the storm produced was unprecedented in the affected areas. In Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica, UNICEF compiled these estimates on the human toll: 8,421 killed, 7,671 missing, 10,190 wounded, 1,537,687 evacuated and left homeless and 1,654,000 more affected in some direct way. Furthermore, Hurricane Mitch caused $6 billion worth of damage to the infrastructure of these countries.

The Effectiveness Of Different Personal Protective Ensembles In Preventing Injury To The Thorax From Blast-Type Anti-Personnel Mines, J. Nerenberg, Aris Makris, H. Kleine

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

It is well established from numerous documented cases of bomb blasts that, under certain conditions (determined by the amount and proximity of explosive), the transmitted shock wave and associated overpressure generated by the detonation of an explosive device can cause critical and fatal injuries to the thorax, e.g., “blast lung.” As such injuries tend to be internal and thus difficult to detect, there has been considerable debate in recent years on the significance of the blast overpressure injury in the context of demining/mine clearance compared to more visible injuries, such as, amputation of extremities, fragmentation wounds and blindness. A wide …

Quality Standards For Demining, James Trevelyan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the last two years, several authors have commented critically on the 99.6 percent standard for humanitarian mine clearance adopted by the United Nations and its agencies. These standards are being redrafted, yet from the literature and recent comments, it is clear that there is little intellectual foundation on which to build a new standard. There are three issues that need to be addressed. First, what is an acceptable quality standard for humanitarian demining? Second, how can one measure the quality levels actually achieved in humanitarian demining? Third, how can one implement a cost-effective training and monitoring process to ensure …

Geomines: Exploring Manual Demining Techniques, Geo Velez

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since its creation, Geomines has assumed an active role in the demining community. Accredited by the United Nations, the European Commission and the BHMAC of Sarajevo, Geomines is the result of the combined efforts of marine-oriented Geocean Solmarine and the mine clearance-oriented E.O.D. NewTechnologies.

Reducing Accidents In Demining: Achievements In Afghanistan, James Trevelyan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article has been removed.

Intersos, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

INTERSOS is an Italian based organization founded in 1992, by a group of individuals who had already dedicated years of aid and understanding to victims in developing countries. INTERSOS is a non-profit, independent organization that works to support public and private institutions that share its perspective in aiding the victims of humanitarian tragedies across the world.

Deminers, Manual Demining And Their Protective Equipment, Norman Stewart

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In Cambodia, a deminer was working in the prone position and set off an anti-personnel type 72 Chinese tilt mine. The resulting blast went over his head and did not damage his exposed hands. The blast over-pressure sucked air and dirt into his helmet visor and punctured his eye, which recovered fully. This over-pressure problem was caused by an air gap between the helmet visor and his protective jacket. Within seven days a new visor was dispatched from the manufacturer to my specifications, tested and found to remove the air gap problem. As part of the daily safety checks carried …

Ronco Executives Talk About Demining Integration And The Imas Contract, Margaret S. Busé

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article has been removed.

The Halo Trust, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

HALO in Cambodia operates the demining system of One-Man One Lane (OMOL). Traditional mine clearance has operated with three individuals performing detection, probing and trip wire detection/deactivation. With the use of improved German mine detectors, HALO has safely combined all tasks to a single man, doubling productivity and halving personnel costs.

Norwegian People's Aid, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Operating on the principles of solidarity, unity, human dignity, peace and freedom, Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) is one of Norway's leading non-governmental organizations. Originating in 1939 as a result of the Norwegian labor movement, NPA quickly assumed an active role in Norway, performing rescue, first aid and public health services, assisting the elderly and disabled, offering services during natural disasters and operating reception centers for asylum seekers.

The U.S. Approach: Deminer Personal Protective Equipment Development, George Zahaczewsky

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The deminer and his partner began work at 0730. By 0850, they had cleared 50 square meters. Both men wore frag-jackets, helmets and visors. The victim was clearing by using his prodder. He was called to help his section leader remove grass from a large pothole in the road. As he returned at 0850, he stepped on a mine he had previously missed. (Extracted from the Database of Demining Incident Victims, 1999, Incident #53.)

International Standards For Personal Protective Equipment, Alastair Mcaslan, Keith Feigenbaum

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

International Standards for Mine Action are being revised by the United Nations. As part of the revision process, a working group on personal protective equipment (WGPPE) has been established to examine the subject of safety in mine clearance operations, and to make recommendations on standards and guidelines for PPE. This paper is based on the WGPPE's report.

Development Of A Procedure, Cameron R. Bass

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The human toll from AP mines is large. The United Nations estimates that there are over 100 million AP mines deployed worldwide (U.N. 2000). An estimated 20,000 civilians die each year from landmine explosions.Thousands more are wounded and maimed. As there is still no inexpensive and reliable mechanical technique for removing AP mines, human deminers will be used in the foreseeable future to protect the general population from the menace of landmines.

Poetry From The Mine Field, Chris North

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Poetry from the Mine Field