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Vietnam, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Vietnam

The Journal Of Mine Action Issue 9.1 (2005), Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A Retrospective

Unsung Heroes: Adnana Handzic, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Adnana Handzic has been called a heroine in the world of mine action because of her work at the Bosnia-Herzegovina Mine Action Center (BHMAC). She began working there shortly after its inception in 1996 and has never looked back. Dedicated to designing flawless mine awareness programs throughout her career, Handzic has been a key player in mine action for the last nine years. Currently working for the U.N. Development Programme Bosnia-Herzegovina (UNDP BiH) as a project assistant, she continues to leave her mark.

Mine Action: Success And Challenges, Sayed Aqa

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since the launch of the first-ever civilian mine action operations in Afghanistan in 1988, significant progress has been made to rid the world of this terrible weapon—a weapon that kills and maims so many and presents a persistent obstacle to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in many countries. Based on the successful advocacy of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and the organization's work with governments, 122 states banned the production, use and stockpiling of landmines by signing the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in 1997. Today, just eight years later, 144 states have ratified or acceded …

Clearing Mined Roads For Agricultural Development In Angola: Hdi's Unique Public-Private Partnership, Daniela Kempf

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) is putting the pieces together again—again! This time, HDI is putting together landmines, agriculture, milk and the U.S. government to create and implement an innovative partnership project for mine clearance in Angola.

The Landmine Victim Assistance Component Implemented By The Oas In Nicaragua, Carlos Orozco

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 1990, Nicaragua registered approximately 135,000 mines buried within its national territory and another 133,435 mines in military stockpiles as a result of the internal conflict witnessed in Nicaragua during the 1980s. Although this article does not touch on the details related to the operations, it is important to note that Nicaragua is the most heavily mined country in Central America and on the entire continent. As of June 2004, approximately 27,400 APMs remain buried within Nicaraguan territory.

Ethiopia And Eritrea, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Today, Ethiopia and Eritrea are two separate countries with individual governments and distinctly different mine action programs. So why, then, are they consistently grouped together when discussing mine action? Phil Lewis, Program Manager of United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea Mine Action Coordination Center (UNMEE MACC), explains that "historically, the ties between these two countries have always been very close. It is thus not surprising that the countries are consistently grouped together even when talking about mine action; however, ... it is critical to keep in mind that each country has its own idiosyncrasies that explain and impact the …

Anti-Personnel Landmines: A 10-Year Review Of Eu Action, Daniela Dicorrado-Andreoni

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This issue of the Journal of Mine Action comes at an important juncture in the European Community's (EC's) fight against landmines and is the right moment to look back and reflect. November 2004 brought the first Review Conference of the Anti-personnel Landmine Ban Convention in Nairobi, which marked significant progress made by the international community in this area. The EC's Multi-Annual Programme and Strategy 2005–2007 was adopted at the end of 2004, which responded to the Nairobi Action Plan.

Adopt-A-Minefield®: Engaging Civil Society In Mine Action, Nahela Hadi

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 1998, following the signing of the Ottawa Convention, the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) began developing a program to address the landmine issue. The challenge was UNA-USA wanted to do more than just raise awareness of the landmine problem. We did not want to leave people without the ability to act once they had learned about the problem and felt compelled to act. We wanted to do something different through a program that would engage civil society in clearing minefields. Thus, the Adopt-A-Minefield (AAM) campaign was born.

Mine Action Lessons And Challenges: Is Mine Action Making A Difference ... Or Avoiding The Question?, Eric Filippino, Ted Paterson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Certainly, the international mine action community has learned a great deal over the past 15 years. But has mine action really made a significant difference to the people it is trying to help? Few things in mine action cause more frustration and misunderstanding among donors, recipient governments and programme managers than the question, "What results has the programme achieved?" Studies have decried that, despite data detailing the number of landmines destroyed, the area of land cleared and the number of people receiving mine awareness training, there are few data allowing an assessment of whether these achievements have enhanced the well-being …

Itf: A Look At The Past, Present And Future Of Mine Action, Dorijan Marsic, Iztok Hočevar

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) was established March 12, 1998, by the government of the Republic of Slovenia. The main activities of ITF are demining, mine victims assistance (MVA), training, mine awareness, mine risk education (MRE), Geographical Information Systems (GIS) development and regional cooperation. In the years since its inception, ITF has developed into the main regional actor in the field of mine action (MA) in the region of southeastern Europe (SEE). In addition, ITF is strongly involved in connecting the region through the Southeastern Europe Mine Action Coordination Council (SEEMACC).

Reflecting On 10 Years Of Ronco Operations In Mine Action, John Lundberg

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Ten years ago, RONCO was carrying out mine action operations in five countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia, Mozambique and Rwanda. Today, the company has over 200 demining-related projects in its portfolio, has worked in almost 30 countries, and has emerged as a world leader in landmine and UXO removal. While the underlying principle of RONCO's work remains the same—building local capacity by training, mentoring and overseeing host-nation organizations—its methodology and the environments in which it is asked to operate have changed considerably.

Raking It All Up After 10 Years, Andy Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For two years, Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) in Sri Lanka has provided assistance to the Tamil demining groups and authorities, helping them to refine their own systems and to meet the requirements of the International Mine Action Standards. Uniquely, they have achieved this without losing the low-cost features that are essential to any locally sustainable method. Recently NPA has begun to support a similar process in government-controlled areas, working with both the army—in cooperation with RONCO—and civil demining groups. Their civil partners are the Milinda Morigoda Institute for People's Empowerment, HORIZON and SARVATRA—the first is a local Sri Lankan non-governmental …

Estonian Humanitarian Demining, Stan Reber

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Estonian Rescue Board, under the Ministry of Interior, is responsible for demining activities, planned operations, emergency response, training in mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and mine risk education (MRE) in Estonia. The Estonian Defense Forces are responsible for military bases and ranges. The Rescue Board's EOD center is based in Tallinn, and there are three other regional units, described as militarized companies, in Tallinn, Tartu and Jõhvi. In total, there are 35 fully trained Estonian deminers, including 17 at the EOD center. Planned demining operations are usually conducted from April to October.

Intersos Mau: Demining Operations And Lessons Learned, Fernando Termentini

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

INTERSOS' involvement in demining activities originated from its experience in humanitarian operations in post-war contexts, during which it confronted a large number of mine casualties and severe constraints to the restart of socio-economic life due to mine contamination. Therefore, INTERSOS decided to get involved directly in the mine action efforts of the international community, establishing in 1997 the Mine Action Unit (MAU) on a permanent basis.

Intersos: Thinking Over And Practicing Mre In Iraq, Pia Cantini, Valentina Crini

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine risk education (MRE) has become ever more essential to any humanitarian mine action programme and, recently, to any reconstruction and development strategy of mine-/UXO-affected countries. MRE has been passing through an evolution, both in terms of policies and international/national capacities.

Unsung Heroes: German Avagyan, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Freelance documentary photographer German Avagyan has dedicated his time, effort and art to the landmine situation in Armenia and Karabakh. Through his photography, he has helped to educate people on the seriousness of the landmine problem in Armenia. Over the past five years, Avagyan documented over 50 cases of landmine injury and became closely acquainted with the families he photographed, hearing their stories of tragedy and sometimes death. "The more I have learned from them, the stronger my determination has grown to tell their stories," Avagyan states.

Endnotes Issue 9.1, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Endnotes Issue 9.1

Masg Update, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article highlights the recent activities of the Mine Action Support Group (MASG), including updates on the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Mine Risk Education In Azerbaijan, Musa Jalalov, Vagif Sadigov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine risk education (MRE) is considered to be one of the key components of mine action throughout the world. It is the first step in reducing mine/UXO injury and death rates through dissemination of safe-behavior messages and rules among the population in contaminated and nearby areas. According to the Azerbaijan Mine Action Programme, MRE should be supported by and integrated with other forthcoming mine-related activities in Azerbaijan. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) MRE program in Azerbaijan is funded by the U.S. Department of State. It has been implemented and coordinated in close cooperation with the Azerbaijan National Agency for …

Afghanistan, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mine-infested countries in the world. During a 10-year occupation beginning in 1979 followed by years of internal warfare, landmines were planted throughout the country. The most heavily impacted areas are near the borders of Pakistan and Iran. Following the Soviet occupation, over 800 square kilometers (308.88 square miles) were contaminated with landmines. The exact number of mines plaguing the country is unknown, as minefield records are still incomplete. With such a vast problem, there was an immense need for action. In 1989, a mine action program was developed that would later become one …

Croatia, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the 1990s, the collapse of the former Soviet Union led to the eventual disintegration of Yugoslavia. Consequently, the Croatian government’s decision to break away from Yugoslavia in 1991 prompted resistance from Belgrade and an uprising by the Serbian minority. During these years of conflict, all involved parties laid landmines as both offensive and defensive weapons against enemy forces. The mines were used to protect areas of strategic and economic importance, such as railway lines, power stations and pipelines. After Croatia’s secession in 1991, the country went to war with the Serbs, specifically over the area known as Slavonia. The …

Bosnia And Herzegovina, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

After the death of Yugoslavia's ruler, Marshal Josip Broz Tito, in 1980, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) divided into five separate countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), and the Republic of Macedonia. Since that period, BiH has faced many changes. Shortly after its declaration of independence from the SFRY in March of 1992, the country broke out in conflict that lasted three years and resulted in three million displaced persons, over 250,000 dead or missing, and 170,000 wounded. Hostile action was primarily conducted by the Bosnian government army, the …

Are We Setting The Wrong Target?, Robert Keeley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Ottawa Convention was signed by 122 countries in Ottawa in December 1997. In September of the following year, Burkina Faso became the 40^th country to ratify the agreement, triggering entry into force six months later. Thus, in March 1999, the Ottawa Convention became binding under international law. Article 5 of the Convention states, "Each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control, as soon as possible but not later than 10 years after the entry into force of this Convention for that State Party."

Ronco-Trained Sri Lankan Army Demining Teams Respond To Post-Tsunami Clearance Tasks, Stacy L. Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the early morning of December 26, 2004, a powerful tsunami hit the eastern seaboard of Sri Lanka, devastating fishing communities lining the shore and impacting villages as far as 1 kilometer (0.62 mile) inland. Within days of the catastrophic event, reports reminiscent of the migrating mine situation in Central America following Hurricane Mitch surfaced. As in Honduras in 1998, the possibility of displaced mines and other hazardous ordnance posed a threat to the local population and to emergency relief workers moving into the region to bring supplies and rebuild vital infrastructure. The mine action community in Sri Lanka responded …

Missed Opportunities: The Need For Landmine Survivor Rehabilitation In Rural Areas, Stephen Meyers

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Persons with disabilities in developing countries are "regarded by their own communities as the most disadvantaged," yet poverty alleviation and international aid programs have consistently failed to prioritize their rehabilitation and integration into society. Within the scope of mine action (landmine removal, victim assistance and mine risk education), landmine survivor assistance receives only five percent of all humanitarian mine action funding. Persons with disabilities, whether their disabilities were caused by war, agricultural or industrial accidents, diabetes, infection or other causes, are often ignored.

Comprehensive Action Against Landmines In Ecuador, Guillermo Leal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

During the conflict of 1995 between Ecuador and Peru, a number of minefields were sown along the disputed border area. Although statistics concerning the problem have been difficult to obtain, anti-personnel mines represent a serious threat to the local populations. Many inhabitants have been forced to alter their traditional agricultural lifestyles as well as other daily activities such as cattle ranching, hunting and fishing.

Guatemala, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Tucked among Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras, Guatemala is a country full of history. Farming and fishing villages date back to as early as 2000 B.C. and represent the beginning of the Mayan culture that dominated the area for centuries. In 1583, Pedro de Alvarado, sent by the king of Spain, conquered the lands of the remaining Mayans and took possession of the land. The year 1821 brought independence from Spanish rule but not an improvement in the lives of the Mayans. Various leaders and governments took power, and in the 1950s, Colonel Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán carried on the liberal …

Itep Test Trials For Detection Reliability Assessment Of Metal Detectors, Christina Mueller, Mate Gaal, Martina Scharmach, Sylke Bär, A.M. Lewis, T.J. Bloodworth, Dieter Guelle, Peter-Th Wilrich

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The total detection reliability of a mine-searching system is governed by the following three elements:

• Intrinsic capability, which describes the basic physical-technical capability of the method.
• Application factors, which include those due to environment.
• Human factor, which is the effect of human operators on the detection reliability.

Some of these can be determined in simple laboratory measurements in which the effect on detection capability of individual parameters is measured. However, the human factor and some aspects of the effects of environmental conditions on the system need to be treated statistically.

The National Demining Office In Lebanon, 1998–2004, George Massaad, Salim Raad, Kassem Jammoul, Chip Bowness

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine action in Lebanon only became highlighted internationally since the withdrawal of Israeli forces in May 2000. Wars and occupation during the past 25 years have left hundreds of thousands of mines and UXO scattered throughout Lebanon, including cluster munitions. The draft national Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) indicates that as of September 2003, more than 30 percent of the national population of 3.7 million is affected, and estimates that 1.4 percent of the landmass or about 137 million square metres remains potentially contaminated by mines and/or UXO. This is a significant detriment to socio-economic development.