A new form of contamination will require complex clearance operations
Press Release | London, 4th April 2021, 12:00 GMT
Press Release | London, 4th April 2021, 12:00 GMT
On International Day of Mine Awareness, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is alarmed by an exceptionally high and complex level of contamination, particularly explosive remnants of war (ERW) and improvised mines following current and recent conflicts.
Published November 2020, the Landmine Monitor recorded 5,554 mine casualties in 2019, a very high number for the fifth consecutive year. 80% of them are civilians - children representing 43% of the civilian casualties. This high figure is mainly due to intense armed conflicts in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and other conflict areas. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the sometimes unprecedented level of contamination left will require complex and long clearance operations in order to restore life to the local populations.
After years of conflict including Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan are contaminated by a vast range of explosive weapons including air delivered bombs, explosive remnants of war, improvised explosive devices and booby traps. Urban areas are the worst affected. In many cities in these countries, the ground is littered with rubble mixed with explosive remnants of war, improvised devices and booby traps left behind by the belligerent parties. In recent years, clearance operations have become much more complex and require humanitarian clearance organisations to adapt, re-equip and in some cases, re-train.
With its partner Mobility Robotics, HI in Chad has tested the use of drones to accelerate the clearance of land contaminated by mines and other explosive remnants of war and its release to the local population. HI is able to locate suspicious objects using drones equipped with cameras and create maps to better define places of intervention for deminers. HI is pioneering the use of an infra-red camera to locate explosive ordnance buried in the ground. These new methods aim to accelerate land release activities in addition to making them safer, cost-effective and efficient.
“In the coming years, clearance operations face new and difficult challenges. In countries such as Syria, Yemen, Libya and Afghanistan, bombing and shelling in urban areas has left behind a large number of explosive remnants of war including bombs, missiles, projectiles, and improvised devices.
In many cases these deadly items are mixed within the rubble of destroyed or partially destroyed buildings. In many places, this contamination is deliberately placed to target civilians and spread fear and death to those wishing to return home.
This type of contamination is extremely dangerous and requires complex clearance operations. It also makes risk education sessions essential to teach the population safe behaviours and to respond to these dangers when faced with these deadly explosive devices,”
said Emmanuel Savage, HI’s Armed Violence Reduction Manager.
NotesInterviews upon request with Humanity & Inclusion’s experts:
Other notes:
Press contactLucy Cottle, Humanity & Inclusion UK About Humanity & InclusionHumanity & Inclusion is an independent international aid organization. It has been working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict, and disaster for 39 years. Working alongside people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions, and promoting respect for their dignity and basic rights. Since it was founded in 1982, Humanity & Inclusion has set up development programs in more than 60 countries and intervenes in numerous emergency situations. The network of eight national associations (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States) works constantly to mobilize resources, jointly manage projects, and to increase the impact of the organization’s principles and actions. Humanity & Inclusion is one of six founding organizations of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), the co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 and the winner of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize in 2011. Humanity & Inclusion acts and campaigns in places where “living in dignity” is no easy task. |
Marlène Manning, Senior Media & Communication Officer
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ABOUT US
Humanity & Inclusion UK
Romero House,
55 Westminster Bridge Road,
London
SE1 7JB
UK registered charity no. 1082565
MORE INFORMATION
SEARCH