Peace and Conflict Studies Commons^™

Use Of Multi-Criteria Analysis In Allocating Eod Teams In Humanitarian Mine Action, Robert Keeley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In this article, the author aims to set out how a standard economic planning tool, multi-criteria analysis (MCA), can be used to help plan allocation of mobile explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams between regions in a humanitarian mine action program and solicit comments on how the model could be developed.

How Product Design Can Improve Manual Demining, Anders Ilsoy

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Design without Borders (DwB) programme was initiated and is led by Norsk Form, the Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture. It aims to use designers’ creative and analytical skills to create solutions for developing countries and areas of emergency. DwB aims to create meeting points between problem owners and professional problem solvers, and to be a catalyst for cooperation and development of new products and services. Our demining work is carried out in close collaboration with Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA).

Explosive Remnants Of War: The Impact Of Current Negotiations, Paul Ellis

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

“While there has been significant progress in reducing the scourge of APLs, the menace posed by unexploded artillery shells, mortar rounds, hand grenades, cluster bomb submunitions and other similar objects must also be addressed.”—ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger, 2002.

Imas And Ppe Requirements, Andy Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This paper explains the personal protective equipment (PPE) that a demining group must use in order to comply with the United Nations’ International Mine Action Standards (IMAS). The author was an active member of the User Focus Group advising the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) when they made the current IMAS revision. He continues as an elected member of the IMAS Review Board. The author has also maintained a database of demining accidents for five years, and uses the evidence of real accidents to inform his views on protection needs.

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 7.1 (2003), Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Research, Development and Technology in Mine Action

Manual Demining In Lebanon, Max Dyck

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

MineTech International has been tasked with clearing 1,300 square kilometres of land in southeast Lebanon. In the space of nine months, MineTech deminers have disarmed and destroyed 23,300 mines, clearing 2.2 million of the total three million square metres of land. As MineTech approaches completion of this first major task in Lebanon, MineTech Project Manager Max Dyck and Team Supervisor Moses Sibanda present their individual perspectives on the challenge.

Mine Drill For Drevers, Hugh Morris

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With its Mine Dog Centre in Pretoria, MineTech International has begun a two-year program to assess the potential of the Drever for development as an alternative breed for mine detection work. The programme has been initiated by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), which has provided six dogs for the project. The study involves keeping detailed records of all areas of the Drevers’ development process to identify both the positive and negative aspects in training these dogs as mine detection dogs (MDDs). The project began in October 2002, and although it is still in early stages, some interesting …

A Fresh Approach To Road Clearance Operations, Roger West

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

UXB International has employed a combined approach to clearance activities in the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The author discusses how his organization uses this unique method of mine clearance.

Tmac: Conquering Thailand’S Unique Mine Problem, Nicole Kreger

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Thailand Mine Action Center (TMAC) faces a number of challenges in coping with the country’s landmine situation, but the organization is making progress, one step at a time. For more insight into TMAC’s operations, Mr. Dave McCracken, Chief Technical Adviser of TMAC, recently shared some of his views on demining, including the successes and challenges, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and what lies ahead.

The Swedish Eod And Demining Centre, Thore Backman

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article briefly introduces the Swedish Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Demining Centre (SWEDEC) and illustrates its role and principal activities within both military and mine action contexts.

Mine Detection Dogs In Denmark, Mikael Borch Madsen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Danish Mine- and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)-Technicians (DANMINAR A/S), a company based in Denmark, provides various types of training for dogs in locating such things as bombs, drugs, mines and more. This article outlines their history and progress in the field of detection dogs.

Mine Detection Dog Program: The Cambodian Experience, H.E. Khem Sophoan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the seven years since its creation, Cambodia’s Mine Detection Dog (MDD) Program has grown and developed to become a fully integrated part of the country’s mine clearance strategy. This article highlights the program’s history and achievements.

News From The Oas, Whitney Tolliver

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 1996, the OAS Mine Action Program has assisted the government of Costa Rica in its efforts of mine clearance, mine risk education (MRE) and victim rehabilitation. On December 10, 2002, the country became the first in the Americas to officially declare itself free of AP mines. Mine contamination within the country had been concentrated primarily along the northern border as a result of the conflict in Nicaragua. Costa Rica itself has never produced, imported, stockpiled or used AP mines.

Remote Explosive Scent Training: Genuine Or A Paper Tiger?, Håvard Bach, Ian Mclean

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article briefly discusses many of the research challenges presented by the Remote Explosive Scent Training (REST) concept. These challenges were reviewed at a recent workshop (8–12 February 2003), hosted by APOPO at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, and attended by all current players involved in developing or using REST for demining purposes.

Costa Rica: The First Country In Latin America Free Of Anti-Personnel Landmines, Jaime Perales, Carl Case

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On December 10, 2002, Costa Rica declared itself the first country free from anti-personnel landmines in the Western Hemisphere. Placed in hills and brooks, bridges and roads, mines and UXO were buried for more than 15 years during the conflict in Central America.

The U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program: Helping Countries “Get On Their Feet”, Jenny Lange

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 1988, the U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program (formerly the U.S. Humanitarian Demining Program) has been involved in mine action efforts around the globe. While much has been written about the U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program over the past few years, it is useful to review the program’s fundamentals if only to remind ourselves of its policy and procedural aspects.

The Survey Action Center, David Hartley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Survey Action Center (SAC) is an international organization with its headquarters in Washington, D.C. It is registered in the United States as a non-profit organization. SAC serves as the executing agency for Landmine Impact Surveys (LISs). These surveys will allow for greater prioritization of demining efforts and further integration of the various mine action sectors.

The Swedish Rescue Services Agency And Mine Action, Pehr Lodhammar

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA) is a Swedish governmental organization that has been involved in Mine Action since 1999. Currently, the SRSA is involved in mine action in Eritrea, Kosovo, Jenin, Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The SRSA conducts a number of mine-related research and development (R&D) projects and hopes to become an operational mine clearance operator in the future.

International Mine Action Standards: Future Development Of Ppe Standards, Adrian Wilkinson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article explains developments since the issue of International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) 10.30 in order to illustrate the potential amendments to IMAS 10.30 over the next two years.

First Person: Deminers’ Stories, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Personal stories open a unique world by revealing the challenging experiences in the life of a deminer. These stories are compiled from the CD Landmines: Clearing the Way, which showcases field experiences and explains how the U.S. government and the international community are working together to solve the landmine problem.

Ocean Group: Explosive Ordnance Disposal/Landmine Clearance Division, Susanna Sprinkel

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 2000, the Ocean Group Explosive Ordnance Disposal/Landmine Clearance Division (EOD Division) has been forming an extensive underwater clearance program by combining vast experience from different fields of mine action and by developing advanced underwater demining technologies

Canadian Centre For Mine Action Technologies, Susanna Sprinkel

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Funded by the Canadian Landmine Fund, the Canadian Centre for Mine Action Technologies (CCMAT) works with Canadian and other international organizations to enhance the mine action community. To date, they have tested and evaluated a number of now widely used pieces of mine action equipment as well as researched new techniques to further develop demining technologies.

Mine Detection Dogs: An Integral Tool In Ronco Mine Clearance Operations, Ronco Consulting Corporation

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine detection dogs (MDDs) have become an important tool to mine action organizations in many programs across the globe. For about 15 years, RONCO has been one such organization. This article describes the role of MDDs in RONCO’s operations.

Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) provides operational assistance to mine action programmes and operators, conducts research and provides support to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.

An Update On The Mine Action Support Group, Masg Masg

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article highlights the recent activities of the Mine Action Support Group (MASG). This includes updates on the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Use Of Mechanical Equipment In Mine Clearance, Johannes Dirscherl

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In recent years, mechanical equipment has become more and more prominent in demining programs around the world. This article provides an overview of mechanical demining equipment and highlights the involvement of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) in promoting such equipment.

The U.S. Department Of Defense Humanitarian Demining Research And Development Program, Sean Burke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 1994, the United States initiated a research and development (R&D) program to develop new, internationally shareable technologies for humanitarian deminers and for U.S. troops performing peacekeeping and stability operations. The Humanitarian Demining (HD) R&D Program is part of the overall U.S. effort to assist with the global landmine problem.

Ddas: Imas And Ppe Requirements, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

This paper explains the personal protective equipment (PPE) that a demining group must use in order to comply with the United Nations’International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).

My views in this paper are based on extensive field experience, the detailed investigations in the Database of Demining Accidents (DDAS) and on the many follow-up interviews of accident victims that I have undertaken.

Spoiled Soil, Eddie Banks

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

While it is necessary to remove explosive items from the land to facilitate repatriation, reconstruction and rehabilitation, it is crucial that, in undertaking this action, the soil structure is not inadvertently damaged, creating short-, medium- and long-term problems for agriculture, and in particular, the sustainable farming that supports vulnerable communities.

Adopt-A-Team: Adopt-A-Minefield® Responds To The Situation In Afghanistan, Megan Burke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Afghanistan is considered one of the most mine-affected countries in the world. This is the sad legacy of 23 years of near-continuous war—first against Soviet occupiers, then between rival Afghan factions. The majority of the population has not experienced a time of peace in their lives. According to the United Nations, between 150 and 300 people are injured or killed every month due to landmines or UXO. Seventy percent of those accidents involve civilians—many of whom are returning refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs).