Volume 27, Issue 3 (Fall 2023)

Mar 27, 2024: SEE OUR FALL 2023 ISSUE

Board Game Shows Children How to Avoid Mine Dangers

Dec 18, 2023: Steer clear of bare ground. Do not go near abandoned tanks. Never reach for a discarded toy. Call the emergency services.

​​Long Term Devastation Syria’s Environment is Another War Victim

Dec 15, 2023: Military operations have had devastating effects on the environment in Syria, and experts discuss the necessary solutions and international legal impact against those responsible for environmental pollution.

New Study on Explosive Ordnance Risk Education Launched by GICHD

Dec 14, 2023: EORE provides people with the vital knowledge needed to recognise, avoid, and report potential explosive ordnance hazards.

Landmines Proposed as Solution for Israel’s Border Protection

Dec 13, 2023: Mines are smarter and more lethal than ever but after years of mine clearance experts disagree on whether Israel should lay more of the deadly hidden explosives.

A Landmine Survivor's Resilience, in "Carpenter"

Dec 12, 2023: Khalil Sahragard’s documentary short follows an amputee in Kurdistan who carves prosthetics for others who, like him, have lost limbs to explosives after the Iran-Iraq War.

Ukraine Security Remains a Top Priority for the United States

Dec 11, 2023: Despite all the demand of global conflicts and crises, Ukraine remains a top priority for the Administration, the State Department, and the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

Russian Air Force Accelerates Use of Cluster Bombs in Ukraine

Dec 9, 2023: Russia is now using RBK-500 cluster bombs more frequently in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Minesweeper Game Drives Awareness of the World's Active Landmines

Dec 8, 2023: New awareness campaign uses old-school minesweeper game to show the reality of landmines for many around the world.

War-Time Bombs Deactivated in Quang Binh Province

Dec 7, 2023: Together with the provincial Military Command and local authorities, MAG operators safely moved three war-time bombs found in residential areas in the central province of Quang Binh.

Tetra Tech Assists Ukraine by Demining Agricultural Lands

Dec 6, 2023: Tetra Tech aims to assist Ukraine in detecting and neutralizing anti-personnel mines, unexploded and abandoned ordnance, improvised explosive devices, and other explosive objects.

There Are Now More Land Mines in Ukraine than Almost Anywhere Else on the Planet

Dec 5, 2023: Ukraine is staring down a massive humanitarian challenge — now and into the future.

Special Report on Cluster Munitions and Submunitions in Syria

Dec 4, 2023: Cluster Munitions & Submunitions in Syria: A Technical Appraisal. Special Report 5 is the culmination of nearly a decade of ARES research into the use of cluster munitions and submunitions in the Syrian Civil War.

The Invisible Killer Haunting Laos 50 Years after the Vietnam War

Dec 1, 2023: Laos was heavily bombed between 1964 and 1973 and unexploded munitions are littered, dormant but deadly, across much of the country.

Civilian Areas in North-West Syria Hit with Submunitions

Nov 30, 2023: More than 15 cities, towns and villages across North-West Syria have been targeted with cluster munitions.

Economy Ministry Launches Accelerator for Demining Startups

Nov 29, 2023: An accelerator program in Ukraine is helping startups quickly develop and grow into humanitarian demining programs.

Drones and AI Could Locate Land Mines in Ukraine

Nov 28, 2023: An AI model could speed up laborious and dangerous demining efforts

War in the Breadbasket: Landmines and Food Security in Ukraine

Nov 17, 2023: Global food insecurity has surged in recent years, affecting about 258 million people in 58 countries or territories in 2022. Violent conflict is one of the leading drivers, alongside economic shocks and climate change.

A Glimpse Into the Mine Risk Education Activities in Poland

Nov 17, 2023: DRC helps people raise awareness of Explosive Ordnance Risk in Ukraine through informational campaign at the Przemysl railway station in Poland.

Nearly 600,000 Pieces of UXO Cleared in Laos’ Northern Province

Nov 16, 2023: Over 18,000 hectares of land in northern Laos' Xieng Khuang province have been cleared of unexploded ordnance (UXO), mostly agricultural land and areas slated for future development.

Conflict Pollution, Washed-up Landmines and Military Emissions: How War Trashes the Environment

Nov 15, 2023: Armed conflict leaves a long trail of environmental damage, which in turn can worsen our health and that of other species.

Innovation Conference 2023: November 14–16

Nov 14, 2023: This week is the GICHD's Innovation Conference, which is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the latest advances in humanitarian mine action.

How Can a City Recover From a Brutal Conflict?

Nov 14, 2023: Few places in Yemen have experienced the brutality of its armed conflict as intimately as Ad Durayhimi, which sees extensive contamination by mines and other unexploded ordnance.

North Koreans Maimed or Killed by Landmines During Defection Attempts

Nov 13, 2023: A number of North Koreans trying to cross the China-North Korea border in North Hamgyong Province have been injured or killed by landmines recently.

Six Things to Know About Mine Action in Afghanistan

Nov 10, 2023: Six take aways for humanitarian mine action in Afghanistan, one of the most heavily contaminated countries in the world.

US Landmine Eating Vehicle Spotted in Ukraine

Nov 10, 2023: It appears that Ukraine has received a batch of American M1150 Abrams Mine Clearing Vehicles to help recapture lost territory.

Trimble Partners with HALO Trust for Landmine Clearance in Ukraine

Nov 9, 2023: Trimble Foundation Fund focuses its charitable giving on supporting natural disaster and climate resilience; promoting female empowerment; and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Syria Regime Using Cluster Munitions in Bombing Campaign on Civilians in Idlib

Nov 8, 2023: The Syrian regime of Bashar Al-Assad has been using cluster munitions on the civilian population within the rebel-held Idlib province, Human Rights Watch (HRW) revealed yesterday.

Colombian Campaign Against Landmines Provides Training to Indigenous Community

Nov 8, 2023: A Colombian organization is training the Emberá people in Non-Technical Studies (NTS) to promote the participation and inclusion of indigenous people.

3D Printed Prosthetic Limbs Help Ukrainians Live Normal Lives or Rejoin the Fight

Nov 7, 2023: Unbroken is an organization in Ukraine that helps wounded people regain their mobility through prosthetics, surgery, physical rehabilitation training and more.

Between Tradition and the Law: Artisanal Firearm Production in West Africa

Nov 6, 2023: A new Briefing Paper from the Small Arms Survey provides an overview of regional trends about the production of craft firearms, and their regulatory frameworks.

More Than 260 Civilians Killed by Landmines and UXO

Nov 3, 2023: Landmines and unexploded ordnance have killed more than 260 civilians in Ukraine over the past 20 months.

Landmine Blast Kills 20 In Northeast Nigeria

Nov 2, 2023: Twenty people in northeast NIgeria were kill when their vehicle struck a landmine while traveling from a funeral.

Landmine Incident Prompts CMAA Safety Advisory

Nov 2, 2023: A man in Banteay Meanchey province inadvertently detonated a landmine, resulting in the loss of his left leg.

Unexploded Ordnance Haunts Southern Lebanon

Nov 1, 2023: Unexploded ordnance from 2006 continues to threaten communities in Southern Lebanon, claiming 200 lives. 

The Middle East Is Burning – But the Crisis in Ukraine Must Not Be Forgotten

Oct 31, 2023: James Cowan, head of the landmine clearance charity The HALO Trust, visits Ukraine to see horror that still envelops the nation

Hungary Hosts Training for Divers Who Salvage UXO

Oct 31, 2023: Military divers from Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Lithuania participated in an international training exercise in Budapest, working in flooded underground mines, rivers, lakes, and caves.

Bringing Normalcy to War-Torn Ukraine

Oct 30, 2023: The Kyiv and Chernihiv oblasts in northern Ukraine were affected by fierce fighting in March 2022. Today, local residents are trying to move forward with their lives and bring back a sense of normalcy to it.

Bulgaria and Romania Begin Demining Black Sea

Oct 27, 2023: Bulgaria and Romania have begun to clear the route of the new Ukrainian grain corridor in the Black Sea from mines.

Lessons From Mine Action: Integrated Care for Civilians in Conflict

Oct 26, 2023: As civilians worldwide are threatened by modern armed conflict, we urge the global health community to work alongside partners in mine action.

Landmine Blasts Injures Deminers in Sri Lanka

Oct 25, 2023: Four deminers injured by landmine blast in Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka, while clearing hazardous area.

Mitzi Perdue Hosts Charity Auction to Support Ukrainian Landmine Clearance

Oct 24, 2023: Mitzi Perdue hosts charity auction in her Salisbury, Maryland, home raising more than $220,000 for landmine clearance in Ukraine.

Scientist Expands Research on Landmine Blast Exposure Treatment

Oct 23, 2023: Neurophysiologist Cindy Linn received a grant from the Department of Defense to study treatment for eye damage from landmine blasts.

Wartime Bomb Safely Disposed in Lao Cai Province

Oct 20, 2023: The Military Command of Bao Yen district in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on October 19 removed a 350-kilogramme bomb left from wartime in Bao Ha commune, and destroyed it safely.

Ukraine Demines Half of Farming Lands Designated for Mine Clearance

Oct 19, 2023: Ukraine’s demining efforts show significant progress as the Ministry of Economy reports nearly half of priority farming lands cleared since the beginning of 2023.

Cambodia hosts the Third Global Conference on Mine Action Victims

Oct 18, 2023: The Cambodian Mine Action Authority hosted the 3rd Global Conference on the Assistance to Victims of Anti-Personnel Mines and Other Explosive Ordnance in a Disability Rights Context.

Volume 27, Issue 2 (Summer 2023)

Oct 18, 2023: SEE OUR SUMMER 2023 ISSUE

UK Dstl Adopts UAV-Mounted Sensor Concept for Mine Clearance

Oct 17, 2023: The UK Ministry of Defence anticipates the new mine detection concept “could alter the face of land warfare.”

Reviving Old Mosul: 3D Modeling Aids Safe Clearance in Iraq

Oct 16, 2023: Under the 2014–2017 ISIS occupation, the Old City of Mosul, Iraq, served as a headquarters, where ISIS produced, stored, and transited money, modern munitions, weapons, and IEDs through Mosul, Iraq.

Department of State’s Quick Reaction Force: Twenty-three Years of Service

Oct 16, 2023: For the past twenty-three years, the United States has provided rapid responses to landmine and munitions/explosives related emergencies in some of the most vulnerable populations around the world.

MAG Emergency Response: Digital Explosive Ordnance Risk Education in Somalia

Oct 16, 2023: In response to the tragic accident involving UXO that claimed twenty-seven lives in Somalia in June 2023, Mines Adivsory Group mobilized a rapid response digital explosive ordnance risk education campaign.

Mine Action in Lebanon: Innovation, Learning, and Finishing the Job

Oct 16, 2023: Although many legacies of war remain today, intertwined with the complex geopolitics of the region, Lebanon is also a country that exemplifies excellence in mine action—from strategic to operational levels.

Ammunition Identification Guide for Ukraine: A Collaborative Project Amidst War

Oct 16, 2023: In Ukraine, an informal group of experienced, international EOD technicians, including former military personnel, help create an open-source ordnance identification guide through manufacturer websites and publications.

Integrated Cooperation in Implementing Firearm Deactivation Capabilities: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Oct 16, 2023: New guidelines regarding deactivation standards and techniques will help ensuring that deactivated firearms are rendered irreversibly inoperable and cannot be reactivated.

Empowering Host Nation Counter-IED and Counter-Insurgency Efforts: Innovative Application of Ordnance Recycling

Oct 16, 2023: In the Philippines, the overlap between urban areas and conflict zones increases, and with violent groups’ use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against government forces, the danger to civilians escalates.

An Accessible Seeded Field for Humanitarian Mine Action Research

Oct 16, 2023: The detection of explosive remnants of war (ERW) is a critical task in the land release process; however, a new project to create a long-term study site will accelerate detection techniques for humanitarian mine action.

A Message from the Director

Oct 16, 2023: We greatly appreciate the information shared by our most recent contributors in this issue of The Journal.

In Ukraine: Demining Paves Way for New Capabilities in Humanitarian Clearance

Oct 13, 2023: Launching demining machine production independently and with global partners, Ukraine opens avenues for faster domestic clearance and potential export leadership in humanitarian demining.

MAG Works to Reduce the Impact of Conflicts in West Africa

Oct 12, 2023: MAG has been present in the Sahel and West Africa for more than 10 years, working to reduce the harmful impact of conflicts on populations.

APOPO’s Commitment to a Mine-Free Future for Zimbabwef UXO Under the Sea?

Oct 11, 2023: APOPO’s efforts extend beyond demining; they are instrumental in promoting eco-tourism in Zimbabwe and facilitating the free movement of elephants and other wildlife within the region.

Is There a Safe Way to Get Rid of UXO Under the Sea?

Oct 10, 2023: The Beaufort trench between Ireland and Scotland is one of the largest dumps worldwide for unexploded ordnance.

Demining Teams Find New Landmines After Each Yemen Truce

Oct 9, 2023: Houthi mine-laying operations appear to be accelerating says chief of Project Masam, which has removed 417,103 landmines and other unexploded ordnance in Yemen since June 2018

Humanitarian Demining Training Center Welcomes New Director

Oct 6, 2023: Former director Jonathon D. Green of the Humanitarian Demining Training Center has stepped out of his role September 22, passing the torch to the incoming director, Angel L. Belen.

Cambodia Confirms 26 Mine/UXO Casualties Over Past Nine Months

Oct 5, 2023: Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) has confirmed that 26 landmine casualties were reported over the past nine months, with four dead, 14 injured and eight crippled by the explosions.

Cambodia Warns of UXO Risk During Floods

Oct 4, 2023: The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) has alerted the public to be aware of the danger of buried landmines being exposed during floods.

The Environmental Dimensions of Libya’s Flood Disaster

Oct 3, 2023: The catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya is a human and environmental disaster that has claimed thousands of lives. In a report, the Conflict and Environment observatory examine the environmental considerations.

How Abandoned War Weapons are Poisoning the Baltic Sea

Oct 2, 2023: A staggering 300,000 tonnes of deadly wartime weapons lie scattered on the Baltic seabed. For a century, these weapons have been festering at the bottom of the Baltic ocean, slowly leaking toxic chemicals.

Local Photographer Captures Human Side of Ukraine War

Sep 30, 2023: Photographer Allan Mestel’s latest project focuses on documenting the human perspective of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Landmines in Ukraine: Lessons for China and Taiwan

Sep 29, 2023: A mid-2023 detailed Chinese-language survey of landmine warfare in the Ukraine War yields the conclusion that mines have played the most important role in stymieing the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

North Vancouver Trails Closing for Explosives Search

Sep 28, 2023: Explosives experts contracted by the Department of National Defence are back in North Vancouver, searching the Blair Rifle Range lands for lost and forgotten munitions.

Slowed 'Demining' Means Global Breadbasket Has Only Crumbs

Sep 27, 2023: Ukraine's recovery will depend on how fast the landmine clearance progresses, and without it, the world's breadbasket will be left with crumbs.

International Mine Clearance Training Concludes

Sep 26, 2023: Cambodia has successfully hosted a 10-day multinational training session focusing on landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) removal.

How Are Old, Unexploded Bombs Safely Detonated?

Sep 25, 2023: What goes into the detonation of an explosive war relic that has been left underground for decades? CNA talked to experts to find out more.

Unexploded Weapons Pose New Risk After Libya Flood

Sep 22, 2023: Libya has seven million people and has deep political fractures. It lacks a strong central government and has been embroiled in conflict on and off since a revolution toppled longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Cambodia and Thailand Talk Mine Clearance on Borders

Sep 21, 2023: The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority has announced that the Kingdom will work with Thailand to conduct an in-depth study and devise plans to clear landmines and UXO.

A Glimpse into Explosive Ordnance Disposal with the ICRC

Sep 20, 2023: Around the world, the grim legacy of armed conflict persists long after the guns fall silent. Explosive remnants of war pose an ongoing risk to the safety and lives of countless civilians.

Streets of South Darfur Capital Littered with UXO/ERW

Sep 19, 2023: Public roads and neighbourhoods in the South Darfur capital Nyala are reportedly littered with unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war, threatening civilians over and above the challenges they already face.

Flooding in Libya Displace Landmines as Death Toll Rises

Sep 18, 2023: Many people in Libya have been left without fresh drinking water since the floods contaminated sources, but there's a new danger if they travel to get water: landmines displaced by strong currents.

Ukraine Interested in Cambodia’s Humanitarian Demining Experience

Sep 15, 2023: Yemen has one of the world's highest rates of contamination with landmines and other deadly explosives, the International Committee of the Red Cross has warned, nine years after the start of the brutal civil war.

Yemen's Explosives Contamination Among World's Worst

Sep 14, 2023: Yemen has one of the world's highest rates of contamination with landmines and other deadly explosives, the International Committee of the Red Cross has warned, nine years after the start of the brutal civil war.

With Drones, Geophysics and AI, Researchers Prepare to Do Battle Against Landmines

Sep 13, 2023: At an experimental explosives range in Oklahoma, a team searches for buried ordnance. Foreground, an unexploded U.S.-made M6A1 antitank rocket. All weapons shown in this story have been disarmed.

MAG and Partners Mark Milestone in Lebanon

Sep 12, 2023: Lebanon has been declared free of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) laid by ISIS following a five-year clearance project that has benefited thousands of people and seen almost 3M square meters of land declared safe.

Blinken Focuses on Mine Clearing in Ukraine as U.S. Lays Groundwork for Life After War

Sep 11, 2023: Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited a Ukrainian demining unit on Thursday. Blinken arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday and pledged more than $1 billion in additional aid, including funds for equipment to clear mines.

Ukraine Surpasses Syria With the Most Cluster-Munition Casualties in the World

Sep 8, 2023: More than 300 people were killed and over 600 wounded by cluster munitions in Ukraine in 2022, according to an international watchdog, surpassing Syria as the country with the highest number of casualties.

Dayton’s International Peace Museum Features Exhibit on Cluster Bombs and Vietnam War

Sep 7, 2023: A new exhibit at Dayton’s International Peace Museum spotlights Southeast Asia, the Vietnam War and the use of cluster bombs and munitions.

Civilian Injured by Explosive Remnant of War in Eastern Hama Countryside

Sep 6, 2023: A civilian was severely injured due to the explosion of an object of war remnants in Al-Rebah village in northern Salamyah countryside in eastern Hama within regime-held area, where he was taken to a hospital.

Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) Calls on Land Developers to Ask for Demining Assistance

Sep 5, 2023: The CMAA called on business owners who invest in areas suspected of having landmines or explosive remnants of war (ERW) to request that CMAA inspect the land.

UNICEF Geneva Discusses Impact of War on Children's Education

Sep 4, 2023: This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Regina De Dominicis – to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

Kayah Landmine Clearers Working With Pliers and Bare Hands

Sep 1, 2023: More than 100,000 people have been displaced from Kayah State in Myanmar, according to the United Nations, and those trying to return home do so at the peril of landmines retreating fighters leave behind.

Switzerland to Send Remote-Controlled Deminer to Ukraine

Aug 31, 2023: A Swiss remote-controlled mine-clearing machine is ready to be sent to Ukraine, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

Cambodia to Host International Gathering on Landmines & ERW

Aug 30, 2023: A representative of the Ottawa Convention expressed strong commitment and support for Cambodia’s vision and efforts in demining by assisting the Kingdom’s hosting of an international mine victim conference.

Norwegian Deminers Helping Replant Angkor Park

Aug 29, 2023: National authorities in Cambodia said that the demining organization Norwegian People's Aid has planted 180 trees and 300 square meters of grass at the Angkor site.

Children make up 85% of unexploded ordnance casualties in Afghanistan

Aug 25, 2023: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that Afghanistan is one of the most weapon-contaminated countries in the world, and children make up about 85% of the casualties.

Cambodia Deminers Remove UXO from Sunken Ship

Aug 24, 2023: Deminers could remove only about 20% of the unexploded ordnances (UXO) from a ship destroyed by Khmer Rouge soldiers during the Lon Nol regime and is lying buried under Mekong River in Prey Veng province.

Colombia: Rejection of the Use of Anti-personnel Mines in the Department of Nariño

Aug 23, 2023: The Colombian Campaign against Mines denounced that during the past weekend, 7 victims of antipersonnel mines were registered in the department of Nariño, in the south of Colombia.

How Drones Are Helping Demine Ukraine

Aug 22, 2023: Ukrainian forces are using Draganfly drones to spot and remove Russian landmines. CEO Cameron Chell believes small drones will reshape the future of conflict.

One Thing May Save Ukraine From Russia's Mine Warfare Nightmare: Spider Boots

Aug 21, 2023: Spider boots may sound like one of the cool magic items you can find in fantasy games, but this specially-designed four-legged footwear exists in real life, and is literally a matter of saving life and limb.

Solomons Communities Warned to Stay Clear of Bomb Demolition Exercise

Aug 18, 2023: The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team is conducting a live demolition of bombs at Hells Point, in the Alligator Creek area east of Honiara today.

Zimbabwe Defence Forces Conduct Demining Operations

Aug 17, 2023: The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) are engaged in demining exercises in Matabeleland North and Masvingo provinces in line with the country's National Mine Action Stregy that seeks to get rid of landmines in the country.

Alumna turns home into sanctuary for Ukrainian relatives

Aug 17, 2023: Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 hit close to home in Harrisonburg for some residents

Deadly Surprises From Putin Lurk Under These Family Homes

Aug 16, 2023: Massive mine removal operations are underway in Ukraine as the country tries to repair some of the damage from the Russian occupation nearly one-and-a-half years into the war.

Thousands of Pieces of Unexploded Ordnance Found Buried at Cambodian School

Aug 15, 2023: Cambodian authorities have temporarily closed a high school where thousands of pieces of unexploded ordnance from the country’s nearly three decades of civil war have been unearthed.

Harvest of Duds: What Cluster Munitions in Laos Can Teach Ukraine

Aug 14, 2023: As recently as 2021, Laos has experienced a sudden spike in fatalities from unexploded munitions: 63 people died that year, a figure higher than the previous two years combined.

Women Make South Sudan Safe, One Explosion at a Time

Aug 12, 2023: South Sudan has been in turmoil for most of its existence. It fought for decades to gain independence from neighboring Sudan in Africa’s longest-lasting civil war.

Clearing Landmines From Ukraine Will Be a Huge Task (But It Can Be Done)

Aug 11, 2023: Ukraine is now the most mined country on Earth, surpassing even Syria and Afghanistan, according to a report called Walking on Fire: Demining in Ukraine, issued last month by Globsec, a think tank in Slovakia.

Over 5 Million Square Meters Cleared of Landmines in Kurdistan

Aug 10, 2023: More than 5 million square meters across the Kurdistan Region’s minefields have been cleared of landmines since 2019, revealed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) mine agency on Monday.

U.S.-Funded Demining Strengthens Food Security in South Sudan

Aug 9, 2023: Climate change and continued conflict exacerbate South Sudan’s food security challenges, as four years of extreme floods have reduced agricultural yields and increased South Sudan’s reliance on costlier food supplies.

A Rocket Took Her Leg: She Defines the Pain and Resilience of Yemen

Aug 8, 2023: Shaimaa Ali Ahmed, 12, lost her leg at age 6 after happening upon an unexploded rocket. Yemeni children like her bear an outsized burden from the civil war, where land mines and ordnance litter the landscape.

Russian Forces Hiding Landmines in Everyday Items say Ukrainian Military Engineers

Aug 8, 2023: Ukrainian military engineers report that that Russian forces are hiding set deadly booby traps in toys, fridges, and children's books. 

Landmine Explosion Kills Child and Injures Two Others in Al-Bokamal City

Aug 7, 2023: Old landmine in Syria explodes, killing one and severely injuring two others in Al-Bokamal city the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports.

A Lurking Threat: Landmines Await Lay Kay Kaw Returnees

Aug 5, 2023: Although fighting has subsided, displaced residents from Lay Kay Kaw are unable to return home because the area is sown with landmines planted by both the military and its opponents.

Ugandan Peacekeepers Clear Unexploded Ordnance in Eastern DRC

Aug 4, 2023: Ugandan farmers from Mabenga village lauded the UPDF EACRF contingent for their efforts toward removing the unexploded ordnance.

Ukraine Will Produce its Own Mine Clearance Machines

Aug 3, 2023: In Ukraine, a machine for preparing the soil for mine clearance was certified, granting the manufacturer a certificateand a declaration of conformity allowing it to produce and use the machines.

Unexploded Bomb Safely Defused in Nghe An, Vienam

Aug 3, 2023: Decades after the end of the war, Vietnam still suffers from the deadly threat of bombs, mines, and unexploded ordnance (UXO) left by war.

Croatia Allocates 1 Million Euros for Demining in Ukraine

Aug 2, 2023: Croatia contributes one million euro to demining efforts in Ukraine to restore agricultural land impacted by explosive hazards in Kharkiv Oblast.

Incendiary Bomb Found in Kurdistan Region’s Choman District

Aug 2, 2023: A Soviet-era ZAB100 incendiary bomb along with five anti-personnel mines were found in Erbil and destroyed by a team from the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency.

Ukrainian Farmers Invited to Apply for Land to Demined

Aug 1, 2023: In Ukraine, farmers from Bohodukhivska, Chuhuivska, Iziumska, Kharkivska and Kupianska hromadas of Kharkivska oblast are invited to apply for demining support and land rehabilitation.

Disabilities in Syria: A "Hidden" Crisis

Aug 1, 2023: Recent surveys suggest that, after a decade of war, around a third of the Syrian population now has a disability of some kind. The recent earthquake only made this worse, aid organizations say.

Wildfire in Greece Triggers Explosions at an Ammunition Depot

Jul 31, 2023: Fires have raged across parts of Greece during three successive Mediterranean heat waves and have lead to massive explosions at an ammunition depot in central Greece.

Russian Landmines Pose a Persistent and Deadly Threat in Ukraine

Jul 29, 2023: As Ukrainian forces slowly push ahead with their 2023 counteroffensive after more than a year of shifting battle lines, the country’s military and civilians face a deadly problem: thousands of landmines.

US and Norway Promise $20.8 Million to Increase UXO Clearance in Southern Laos

Jul 28, 2023: The governments of the United States and Norway continue their long-term commitments to support the UXO sector in Lao PDR, comitting a combined total of over USD $20.8 million NPA for survey and clearance.

Forest Fire Triggers Landmine Explosions in Croatia

Jul 28, 2023: Strong winds and exploding landmines prevent Croatian firefighters from battled wildfires spreading in the Dubrovnik area south of the Croatian Adriatic city.

Ukraine Says Allies Commit $244 Million for Humanitarian Demining

Jul 27, 2023: The U.S. State Department estimated in early December that some 160,000 square kilometres (62,000 square miles) of Ukrainian land needed to be checked for explosives hazards. That is nearly half the size of Germany.

UN Watchdog Says Landmines Are Placed Around Ukrainian Nuke Plant Occupied by Russia

Jul 26, 2023: The UN atomic watchdog says its staff at Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant report seeing AP mines around the site as Kyiv pursues a counteroffensive against the Kremlin’s entrenched forces.

Almost 700 People Killed and Injured by Landmines in Ukraine

Jul 25, 2023: In Ukraine, 221 people have been killed and another 450 have been injured by landmines and other explosive objects since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.

“Metal Detectors Are No Use”: Challenge of Removing Landmines in Ukraine

Jul 24, 2023: Without the right technology, the Ukrainian counteroffensive is progressing slowly. The Ukrainian deminers and soldiers know there are larger minefields ahead.

"There is always risk": The Zimbabwean Deminer in South Sudan

Jul 20, 2023: In many areas of South Sudan, there are still bombs, landmines and improvised explosive devices, and other hazardous materials, another peril for a population already grappling with armed violence, natural disasters and

UXO Continues to Harm Development, People’s Livelihood in Laos

Jul 19, 2023: The unexploded ordnance (UXO), mainly cluster munitions, has caused great harm to people's livelihood and remains a major challenge to Laos' socio-economic development.

Over 900 Kilometers in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Mine Suspected Areas

Jul 18, 2023: In Bosnia and Herzegovina, mine-suspected area accounts for 1.96 percent of the territory, as demining organizations conduct clearance in five municipalities.

What Are Cluster Munitions and Why Is the United States Sending Them to Ukraine?

Jul 17, 2023: The United States has announced that it will send cluster munitions to Ukraine after weeks of internal debate and public speculation. Ukraine has asked for these munitions that are highly effective against area targets.

Demining Ukraine: Bringing Lifesaving Expertise Back Home

Jul 14, 2023: As of June, 540,000 items of unexploded ordnance have already been cleared, but making Ukraine safe is a difficult and very expensive long-term prospect.

Kingdom Continues Demining Training for Ukraine Officers

Jul 13, 2023: Cambodia has continued with the provision of demining training to Ukrainian officers, with a continuation of the training programme carried out in January being undertaken for five days earlier this month.

At Least Eight People Killed in Somalia Landmine Explosion

Jul 12, 2023: Despite no organization claiming its responsibility, local officials blame the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab terrorist group for the attack.

Advancing U.S. Alliances and Partnerships through Security Sector Governance Initiatives

Jul 11, 2023: Alliances and partnerships are among the United State's most important strategic relationships. They foster peace and security by promulgating international norms and good security sector governance principles.

Iraq Begins Program to Support Mine Victims

Jul 10, 2023: The Iraqi government adopted a new step to support victims of mines left during successive wars by starting a support program, amid local and international commendations and claims to be one the best in the world.

Long After Wars End, Landmines Continue to Kill

Jul 7, 2023: When Ukraine needed training on removing landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) left behind by Russian forces, who did it turn to? It was probably not who you'd expect.

Bozena-5 Demining System Assembly Begins for Ukraine After Fundraising

Jul 6, 2023: The Bozena-5 demining system, based on tested technology used in UN missions, is expected to provide significant assistance in mine clearance operations in Ukraine.

Farmer Injured in Landmine Explosion in Kherson Oblast

Jul 5, 2023: A farmer was injured in an explosion caused by an unidentified Russian landmine while cultivating a field in the village of Posad-Pokrovske in Kherson Oblast, the regional military administration reported on July 2.

Heroic Deminer Carries on Father’s Fight

Jul 1, 2023: Srey Sros starts her day at 5:45AM, journeying approximately 20km from her home to the demining fields. By 7am, she is kitted up in a protective vest and helmet, designed to shield her from fragments and explosions.

African Rodents Set To Clear Nagorno-Karabakh Minefields

Jun 30, 2023: An army of rats is set to sniff its way across land in Azerbaijan working, literally, for peanuts as they hunt for land mines.

Explosive Remnants of War Threaten Farming Activities, Add Layer to Dire Food Crisis in Tigray Region

Jun 29, 2023: According to the UN’s Mine Action Service, 726 sq km in Ethiopia remain contaminated by landmines and ERW from past internal and international conflicts.

State Department Funded Deminer Training Kicks off in Azerbaijan

Jun 28, 2023: The United States is partnering with ANAMA, MAG, and the International Eurasia Press Fund to traing and equip four, 14-person deming teams in Azerbaijan, promoting regional peace and cooperation.

Campus collaboration supports emerging African leaders

Jun 28, 2023: CoB and CISR work to train the next generation of leaders from Africa.

Years After the War Ends, Bombs Continue to Kill

Jun 27, 2023: UXO is still being discovered 50 years after the Vietnam War ended; however the United States has channelled millions to clean up UXO in country.

Vietnam Approves UXO Consequence Action Programme

Jun 26, 2023: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a decision approving a 2023-2025 national action programme on the settlement of consequences of unexploded ordnances (UXOs) left by the war.

Iraq Launches Strategy for Mine Action 2023–2028

Jun 23, 2023: The Supreme National Committee for Mine Action recently voted on a number of decisions to support the national mine action program and approved a strategy for the years 2023–2028.

Mine Action and Food Security: The Complexities of Clearing Ukraine’s Agricultural Lands

Jun 22, 2023: Over the past decade, peace has eluded Ukraine and organizations such as Fondation suisse de déminage are working in Ukraine to clear these hazardous remnants of war and mitigate their impact on Ukraine's people.

Mines Dislodged by Ukraine Dam Could Wash Up on Beaches

Jun 22, 2023: Mines dislodged by Kakhovka dam collapse could wash up on Black sea beaches according to United Nations official.

How UAV Lidar Imaging Can Locate and Map Minefield Features: Cuito Cuanavale, Angola

Jun 22, 2023: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mounted light detection and ranging (Lidar) mapping systems used for the detection and mapping of minefields in vegetated areas around Cuito Cuanavale, Angola.

Mine Action and South-South Cooperation: Case of JICA and CMAC

Jun 22, 2023: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC) have been at the forefront of expanding South-South and global cooperation by leveraging CMAC's extensive experience and expertise.

Land-Grabbing, Tribal Conflict, and Settler-Nomad Disputes: Land Rights in Mine Action

Jun 22, 2023: Mine action creates multi-dimensional positive humanitarian and development impacts, clearance of explosive ordnance (EO) and land release can lead to competition, contestation, and potential conflict over that land.

Environmental Mainstreaming in Mine Action: A Case Study of Moving Beyond “Do No Harm”

Jun 22, 2023: The "do no harm approach" is well suited to mitigation of direct impacts of mine action activities and should continue to be applied, but it's necessary to understand it as a single component within a broader framework.

Computer Vision Detection of Explosive Ordnance: A High-Performance 9N235/9N210 Cluster Submunition Detector

Jun 22, 2023: Computer vision—a type of artificial intelligence that enables computers and systems to derive meaningful information from digital images, videos, and other visual inputs, and take actions or make recommendations

Mine Mark Digital EORE: Being Innovative as a Small NGO in the Mine Action Sector

Jun 22, 2023: Children account for approximately one-third of all civilian casualties caused by unexploded ordnance, the Mine Mark Foundation outlines the promising potential for digital EORE.

A message from the director

Jun 22, 2023: We greatly appreciate the information shared by our most recent contributors in this issue of The Journal.

IMAS: An Overview of New and Amended Standards

Jun 22, 2023: A summary of the most recent IMAS publications to enable mine action organizations and authorities to stay up to date with the latest IMAS developments.

Landmine Explosion Kills Shepherd on Kurdistan-Iran Border

Jun 21, 2023: A landmine explosion in an Erbil town on the border between the Kurdistan Region and Iran claimed the life of a 65-year-old shepherd on Sunday.

Demining Working Group to Develop Mine Action Strategy

Jun 20, 2023: The Interdepartmental Working Group on humanitarian demining will work on the development of a Mine Action Strategy. The National Mine Action Authority approved the relevant decision at its meeting on June 16.

WWII Ordnance Threatens Civilians in the Solomons

Jun 15, 2023: Every year at least 20 islanders are killed or maimed by the detonation of leftover bombs, artillery shells, or other munitions.

Eight Security Officers Killed in Garissa Landmine Attack

Jun 14, 2023: At least eight security officers have died after a vehicle they were traveling in was hit by a landmine in Garissa, Kenya.

Securing International Airspace Through U.S.-funded Training Programs

Jun 14, 2023: The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has raised alarm over incessant rise in the possession of illegal arms and light weapons in Nigeria.

Nigeria Raises Alarm Over Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons

Jun 13, 2023: The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has raised alarm over incessant rise in the possession of illegal arms and light weapons in Nigeria.

Tragedy Underscores Need to Address UXO Danger in Somalia

Jun 12, 2023: Greater efforts are needed to protect civilians in Somalia from unexploded weapons of war, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) said on Monday in the wake of a recent deadly incident in the south of the country.

Dislodged Landmines Major Concern as Residents Flee Kherson

Jun 8, 2023: The breaching of a major dam in southern Ukraine will have a catastrophic effect on locating landmines, the Red Cross has warned.

Civilians Suffer as Landmines Play Growing Role in Myanmar’s Conflict

Jun 8, 2023: The war zone in Myanmar has expanded in the two years since the putsch, and so have the number of minefields. Of the 330 townships in Myanmar, 78 have reported landmine explosions since the coup.

Deepening the Fight Against Small Arms Proliferation

Jun 7, 2023: Law enforcement, crime, and conflict prevention agencies work together to counter the rising threat of illicit small arms and light weapons proliferation across West Africa.

'Best' Russian Drone Pilots Killed by Own Landmine

Jun 6, 2023: Several of Russia's "best specialists" in drone warfare have been killed by mines laid by Moscow's own forces, according to a pro-Kremlin commander.

NGO Signs MoU with the Solomon Islands to Map UXO

Jun 6, 2023: HALO’s Solomon Islands staff has spent much of the past two months in Cambodia and Laos learning cutting-edge UXO mapping techniques, including using the latest GPS tools.

Landmine Explosion Kills Two Construction Workers in Northern Samar

Jun 5, 2023: In Northern Samar, two people were riding a single motorcycle when they detonated an anti-personnel mine, the military claimed that they also suffered allegedly suffered gunshot wounds.

In Yemen, Landmines Kill 121 People This Year

Jun 5, 2023: Landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) caused 121 civilian casualties in Yemen during the first quarter of 2023, according to a report released by UNOCHA.

Algeria Leads the Way Towards a ‘Mine-Free Africa’

Jun 2, 2023: Algeria has safely disposed of over eight million landmines, which were left by France as it withdrew following Algerian independence in 1962, as was revealed at an international conference this week.

Russia Lays Mines at 'Industrial Level' Ahead of Ukrainian Counteroffensive

Jun 1, 2023: Beyond the military challenge posed to advancing Ukrainian troops, Russian minefields will likely cause hundreds of civilian deaths and require billions of dollars to be safely removed in the coming years experts say.

South Sudan Clears Mines as People Return Home After War

May 31, 2023: As South Sudanese trickle back into the country after a peace deal was signed in 2018 to end a five-year civil war that killed nearly 400,000 people and displaced millions, many are returning to areas riddled with mines.

Government and UXO Companies to Forge Partnership

May 30, 2023: To explore ways of to dispose of deadly WWII unexploded ordnance in the solomon islands, lcoal commerical UXO companies met with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services.

New Phase of UXO Clearance Project Begins in Khammuan Second International Conference on Mine Action Held in Azerbaijan

May 26, 2023: The 2nd International Conference on humanitarian mine action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been held at the Aghdam Conference Center in Azerbaijan.

New Phase of UXO Clearance Project Begins in Khammuan

May 25, 2023: A MAG team will search for and examine unexploded devices on farmland and land where development is taking place, in order to allow the socio-economic development of Khammuan province to forge ahead.

Royal Navy Divers Help Clear the Baltic Sea of Unexploded Ordnance

May 24, 2023: Royal Navy divers are making vital Baltic Sea shipping lanes safer by recovering unexploded mines and torpedoes as part of a NATO security mission.

Farmer Finds UXO’s at His Field in Battambang Province

May 23, 2023: Unexploded ordnance (UXO) was found by a farmer who was working on his rice field in Battambang province.

Almost One Third of Mykolaiv Region Territory, 140 Kilometers of Coast Require Demining

May 22, 2023: The area of mined territories in Mykolaiv region that need to be examined for the presence of explosives is 754,000 hectares, or 30% of the region's territory. Of these, about 288,000 hectares are agricultural land.

Russia’s ‘Petal’ Mines Are the Stuff of Nightmares

May 18, 2023: “Sauna! Lunch! Delivery!” tempts an advertisement by the side of the road. “Mines” reads a fresher sign just underneath. These red warnings bloom all over the scorched earth of eastern Ukraine.

Man Seriously Injured by Landmine While Walking in the Forest

May 17, 2023: A man was seriously injured after stepping on a landmine while he was walking in the forest to pick vegetables along the Cambodia-Thai border.

Sudan Is Awash With Weapons: What That Means for the War

May 17, 2023: Sudan is awash with firearms. The country ranks second among its regional neighbors in total firearm estimates, the vast majority of them are in civilian hands.

Yemen Landmines Kill 6 in Hodeidah in April

May 16, 2023: UN monitors in Yemen recorded 13 civilian casualties caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) last month in Yemen’s western province of Hodeidah.

For Turning ‘Mines to Vines,’ Roots of Peace Founder Wins World Food Prize

May 16, 2023: A California peace activist who has worked to remove land mines from war-torn regions and replace them with grape vines, fruit trees and vegetables was named the 2023 World Food Prize laureate.

United Nations Peacekeepers Clear Minefields in Lebanon

May 15, 2023: Almost 13 million square meters of land are today free of explosive devices in Lebanon, as part of the demining process promoted here by the United Nations Interim Force.

Project Raises Awareness of Landmines and UXO in Armenia

May 15, 2023: An EU and UNDP project organized landmine and explosive hazard awareness activities in Armenia this past April.

West Africa Has a Small Weapons Crisis

May 12, 2023: Research has found that globally, small arms and light weapons increase the likelihood, intensity and longevity of conflict.

Aid Agencies in Sudan Face Massive Reboot as War Takes Hold

May 12, 2023: As fighting continues to rage between Sudan’s army and its main paramilitary force, aid agencies say they’re trying to move from crisis management to mapping out what a reconfigured relief effort might look like.

Germany Makes Available Additional Funds for Victims of Landmines in BiH

May 11, 2023: Additional funds made available for landmine victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Federal Republic of Germany.

Irish Troops Train Ukrainian Deminers in Cyprus

May 11, 2023: In Cyrpus, Irish troops providing explosive ordnance disposal training to Ukrainian deminers as part of an EU program to train Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian Government Launches Fundraising Platform for Humanitarian Demining

May 9, 2023: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced the UNITED24 platform is launching the Humanitarian Demining direction to raise funds for the demining of Ukrainian land.

Kyiv Says Six Deminers Killed By Russian Shelling

May 8, 2023: Ukrainian State Emergency Service says six deminer with SES were killed by Russian sheleling while conducting clearance in the Kherson region.

Half a Dozen Land Mines Destroyed Along Loc in Balakote

May 5, 2023: Near the line of control in the Balakote sector, an Indian bomb disposal squad destroyed multiple landmines threatening army personnel.

Magway Region Landmine Attack on Myanmar Junta Convoy

May 5, 2023: Landmines planted by Yezagyo People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Magway Region’s Yezagyo Township hit a junta military convoy killing at least three junta soldiers and injuring many others, according to the PDF.

Colombia: Help for Landmine Survivors ‘Our Islands Are Plagued by Bombs From the Second World War’

May 4, 2023: Eighty years after intense battles were fought over the archipelago, Solomon Islanders are still regularly maimed and killed by ordnance

Colombia: Help for Landmine Survivors

May 3, 2023: Land mines are a sad inheritance of the Colombian civil – and they continue to mutilate and kill. LWF in Colombia, together with FELM, raises awareness about the danger and supports people after land mine accidents.

Revolutionary Autonomous Tractor Tackles Ukraine’s Landmine Problem

May 2, 2023: Innovation Origins is developing cutting-edge technology that aims to save lives in Ukraine while allowing agriculture to thrive on previously dangerous lands.

Ukrainian Farmer Comes up With Novel Way to Demine His Fields

May 2, 2023: In Ukraine, Oleksandr Kryvtsov, a general manager at his agricultural company, decided he couldn't wait for help from overworked official deminers to clear his field.

CMAA, Vallon Hold Tech Workshop on Demining

May 1, 2023: The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority and Vallon GmbH can a regional workshop in Cambodia on solutions for locating landmines and other unexploded ordnance.

The humanitarian toll of explosive hazards

May 1, 2023: CISR and its alumni shed light on the use of conventional weapons in the Russia-Ukraine war.

WWII Bomb Destroyed in Kota Belud by Royal Malaysian Navy Divers

Apr 27, 2023: The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has destroyed an unexploded bomb that was believed to have been used during the Second World War (WWII) in Pulau Mantanani, Kota Belud.

Using Design Thinking to Invent a Low-Cost Prosthesis for Landmine Victims

Apr 26, 2023: Can design thinking help nonprofits sustain both innovation and its human impact into the future? Harvard Buisness Review looks at the philosophy of designing low-cost prosthesis for landmine victims.

Co-op in Cambodia Teaches Northeastern Student to Be Comfortable in Uncomfortable Situations

Apr 26, 2023: The Landmine Relief Fun, an American nongovernmental organization established to support the work of a former Khmer Rouge child-soldier Aki Ra, provides student co-op opportunity in Cambodia.

High Risk, High Reward: EOD in Kosovo

Apr 25, 2023: The U.S. Army EOD team at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, is on call 24/7 and has an average response time of 30 minutes upon receiving a 9-line request to remove UXO.

In Ukraine, a Nasty Cleanup Job With No End in Sight

Apr 20, 2023: American volunteers in Ukraine are conducting EOD and demining operations, but as nonprofits, many need additional funding for the scope of contamination.

Landmine Injures Two UN Peace Keepers in Mali

Apr 19, 2023: Two UN military personnel were wounded by a landmine blast near the village Amba, 75 km from Douentza, in the Mopti region of Mali.

Quang Tri Completes Survey of Unexploded Ordnance Areas

Apr 18, 2023: The central province of Quang Tri has completed a survey of cluster bomb remnants in all accessible areas since its launch eight years ago, reported Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) Vietnam on April 18.

Using OSINT to Help in Mine Clearance Operations in Ukraine

Apr 18, 2023: Open source intelligence (OSINT) is a term used to describe information acquired from publicly available sources. This includes both online and offline sources.

University Student is Sole Undergraduate Winner of NSF Fellowship

Apr 17, 2023: Binghamton University student only undergraduate to be awarded this year’s National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for her research in humanitarian demining geophysics, or landmine detection.

Ukraine Farmer Risks Life Clearing Shells From Fields

Apr 14, 2023: In Ukraine's Mykolaiv region, although demining teams are out in force some farmers are taking clearance into their own hands.

Frontline Cemeteries Shut to Ukrainians for Easter Because of UXO

Apr 13, 2023: Hundreds of cemeteries near front lines will be closed to Ukrainians wanting to pay their respects at graves of their relatives for Orthodox Easter this weekend, as officials fear the danger of land mines and UXO.

Experts Review Civilian Possession of Arms in ECOWAS

Apr 12, 2023: As part of the reduction of insecurity and the fight against illicit arms trafficking, the ECOWAS Commission brought together during a workshop, independent subject matter experts on issues of arms control.

Hidden in the Grass: Russia’s Trip Wires and Landmines

Apr 12, 2023: As Moscow’s troops set booby traps in forests, houses and backyards, finding them has become a dangerous art for Ukrainian soldiers.

TetraTech Sends Fifteen Pickup Trucks to Help Ukraine Demine Liberated Territories

Apr 11, 2023: TetraTech, a US company, has donated 15 Toyota "Hilux" pickups to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service to help pyrotechnic units in demining territories from explosive objects following the Russian invasion.

Seven Truffle Pickers in Syria Killed by Landmine

Apr 10, 2023: Seven truffle hunters were killed by a landmine left in the Syrian Desert by Islamic State near Deir ez Zor, while regime shelling of Idlib province killed a child.

Shepherd in Erbil Province Diffuses Thousands of Landmines

Apr 10, 2023: Landmines have been planted in the Kurdistan region since the 1960s, ove the past 30 yeards, a shepherd from the north of Erbil has diffused thousands of landmines for the past 30 years.

New Report Showcases U.S. Global Leadership in Conventional Weapons Destruction and Landmine Clearance

Apr 5, 2023: In fiscal year 2022, the United States supported conventional weapons destruction activities in more than 65 countries and areas with more than $376 million according to newly released annual DoSreport.

Ukraine Is Top Recipient of U.S. Mine Clearing Aid

Apr 5, 2023: The U.S. State Department documented its efforts to help more than 60 countries destroy explosive hazards and other conventional weapons, with Ukraine receiving the most assistance in fiscal year 2022 — more than $91M.

Angola Landmines: The Women Hunting for Explosives Left From Civil War

Apr 4, 2023: An increasing number of women in Angola are working to get rid of the scourge of landmines left from the 27-year civil war, which are still claiming victims long after the fighting finished.

Humanitarian Ministry, GICHD Partner on Environmental Demining

Mar 30, 2023: Speaking during a visit to the Ministry, by a delegation of GICHD, the Chief, Mine Action Programmes, Valon Kumnova, said that the purpose of the visit was to look into some of the problems currently faced by Nigeria, an

Persisting Challenges in Demining in Post-Conflict Areas

Mar 29, 2023: An anti-personnel mine is easily laid or merely strewn across battlefield gaps to restrict enemy movement. Mankind over the years has suffered very extensively due to anti-personnel mines with casualties.

Child Casualties from Houthi Landmines Increase Eight-Fold in Yemen

Mar 29, 2023: Despite a year of calm in Yemen, the research said child casualties from Houthi landmines increased during the April to October 2022 truce in the country.

Documentary photographer Giles Duley to speak on JMU campus

Mar 27, 2023: Giles Duley, internationally-recognized documentary photographer and UN Global Advocate for Disability in Conflict and Peacebuilding Situations, will speak for CISR's Global Humanitarian Week event this Thursday.

Unexploded Rockets, Mines, and Grenades: Inside the Hunt to Destroy Lethal Ordnance in Ukraine

Mar 25, 2023: Throughout Ukraine’s fields, grasslands, and forests, it’s the job of a few hundred de-mining experts to locate, secure, and disable or destroy these hazards.

Protecting the Innocent, the Land, and the Body: Traditional Sources of Restraint on Landmine Use

Mar 25, 2023: What drives restraint in armed conflict? Recent studies have examined different factors contributing to restraint behaviour, mainly focusing on strategic incentives such as seeking legitimacy from global audiences.

Civilians in Northern Myanmar Face Growing Risks From Landmines

Mar 24, 2023: Chin Human Rights Organization says at least 11 civilians have been killed and 20 others injured by landmines since Myanmar’s February 2021 coup.

OSCE and Spain’s Guardia Civil Build Capacity to Prevent Illicit Trafficking of SALW

Mar 24, 2023: The OSCE and Spain’s Guardia Civil launched a specialized canine team instructor course for eight Ukrainian specialists at the Guardia Civil’s Dog Training Centre (CADEPE) on 21 March 2023.

Cambodia to Host Int’l Mine Victim Conference

Mar 23, 2023: Cambodia announced that it will host an international victim assistance conference this October for survivors of landmines and other explosive remnants of war, focusing on the context of disability rights.

Civilians Surrender Illegal Small Arms in the Philippines

Mar 23, 2023: The Philippine military collected nearly three dozen illegal weapons from civilians in the Muslim province of Basilan, security officials said Tuesday.

Metal-Detecting Drone Could Autonomously Find Landmines

Mar 22, 2023: In development at the Autonomous Systems Lab at ETH Zurich, a novel combination of a metal detector and a drone with five degrees of freedom may provide a viable solution to remote landmine detection.

Before Power Is Back, Deminers Must Make Ukraine’s War Repairs Safe

Mar 22, 2023: Clearing the whole of eastern Ukraine of explosive hazards will take years, but as the country tries to restore power, water and heating to towns and villages, de-mining teams have to prioritize.

Iraq War 20 Years On: The Most Mined Country on Earth and Clearance Efforts Will Take ‘Decades’, Experts Warn

Mar 21, 2023: A recorded 1,733 square kilometres of land in Iraq was contaminated with landmines at the end of 2021, making it most heavily mined country in the world as clearance efforts are still “decades” away from completion.

OSCE Organizes Explosive Ordnance Disposal Level 3 Course in Dushanbe for Central Asian Demining Specialists

Mar 20, 2023: Together with the Tajikistan Ministry of Defence and U.S. Army Central, OSCE's recent EOD level 3 course in Dushanbe covers a wide range of topics from EOD safety to demolition range management.

CMAC, JICA to Cooperate on Landmine Clearance

Mar 20, 2023: Under the South-South Cooperation, CMAC shares experience, knowledge, and skills in demining not only with Ukraine but also with many countries such as Angola, Iraq, Laos, and Colombia.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 12 Participates in Humanitarian Mine Action in Croatia

Mar 17, 2023: HMA is a Department of State-led initiative to certify U.S. and partner EOD teams in HMA and increase partner nation capabilities in the areas of de-mining, ordnance and explosive stockpile management, and EOD training.

Demining Ukraine: “The Most Important Thing Is to Protect People”

Mar 17, 2023: Ukraine is the most mine-contaminated country on earth. Red warning signs bearing skulls and crossbones litter the fields and forests of liberated territories, whilst civilians are still falling prey to explosives long a

Ukraine Calls for Equipment From Partners to Help Demine Some 2.5 Million Hectares of Land

Mar 16, 2023: In Ukraine, Kherson farmers can only hope to sow 30 percent of agricultural land due to unexploded ordnance and landmines. Combat engineers, at the request of the locals, are on hand to demine the land.

Mainstreaming Gender in Albanian Police Through the OSCE's SALW Project

Mar 15, 2023: Through OSCE, female police officers in Albania are assisting the national authorities to decrease the risk of weapon proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons.

Libya’s First Female Deminers Must Deal With More Than Bombs

Mar 14, 2023: The first women to clear dangerous explosives in Libya are part of an international trend for gender equity in the job.

Two Thai Park Rangers Injured in Landmine Explosion in Chiang Mai Forest

Mar 14, 2023: Two park rangers were injured by what is believed to have been a landmine while their five-man team was patrolling in the Pha Daeng National Park in Chai Prakan district of Chiang Mai.

200 Units of Erw’s and Ammunitions Cleared From Village in Kratie Province

Mar 13, 2023: The Mine clearing unit of the National Center for the Management of Peacekeeping Forces and Demining (NPMEC) are hard at work in clearing mines in Thnal village, Svay Chres commune, Snuol district, Kratie province.

US Donates Vehicles, Equipment for UXO Clearance in Laos

Mar 10, 2023: The US government has provided new vehicles and equipment to the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme for UXO clearance operations, worth at US$1.3 million (21 billion kip).

In Kosovo, Ukrainians Are Trained in Demining

Mar 10, 2023: In Pec, in western Kosovo, at the foot of the snow-capped Dinaric Alps, lit by the February sun, the setting is breathtaking. However, Aleksandar (first name changed at his request) is not there to enjoy the view.

Three Killed in Landmine Explosion in Syria

Mar 9, 2023: At least three civilians were killed when a landmine planted by radicals exploded in a residential neighborhood in the city of Deir Ezzor, the capital of the eastern Syrian province of the same name.

Mine Clearing, the Work of Heroes

Mar 8, 2023: Since the late 1980s, the mine-clearing community has been working hard to protect citizens in communities contaminated by landmines. Today, Ukraine is now in acute need of mines and unexploded ordinance clearance.

In Liberated Ukraine City, Civilians Still Pay Price of War

Mar 8, 2023: Izium is a gruesome reminder of the human cost of the war in Ukraine. Six months after it was liberated, civilian residents say they continue to pay the price.

Volume 27, Issue 1 (Winter 2023)

Feb 16, 2023: SEE OUR LATEST ISSUE