INDEPTH: LANDMINES
Landmines
CBC News Online | October 6, 2003
The United Nations says there are more than 110 million landmines planted in more than 70 countries around the world. The UN estimates that someone is killed by a landmine every 20 minutes.
While efforts are being made to remove about 100,000 mines every year, another two million are planted annually.
Landmines are indiscriminate. Many victims are civilians and they are very often children. Victims who don't die from the blast end up maimed for life.
While landmines are cheap to produce, from $3 to $15 US, they cost at least $1,000 to remove.
Today, most mines are found and deactivated using 50-year-old methods. One person sweeps an area with a magnetic metal detector or a dog trained to sniff explosives. A second person then lies on the ground to probe a possible mined area, using a stick to find the buried object. First, the mine must be carefully exposed. Then, it must either be defused or a charge must be planted on it so it may be detonated from a distance.
The 1997 Mine Ban Treaty was signed in Ottawa by 133 countries. It only refers to mines directed at people; the treaty doesn't disallow mines that are used to blow up vehicles or disable tanks. The world's largest landmine producers — among them the United States, China and Russia — have yet to ratify the treaty.
Here are some other facts and figures about landmines:
- It would take $33 billion and 1,100 years to clear all the landmines around the world
- There are 700 different models of landmines but two main types are used today: antitank mines used to destroy vehicles, and antipersonnel mines meant to maim or kill people
- One in 250 people in Cambodia is an amputee because of landmines
- 8,000 children in Angola became amputees because of mines
- The cost of treating and fitting a victim with an artificial limb is about $3,000
- Other countries that didn't sign the Landmine Ban treaty: Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Serbia.
Some of the World's Most Heavily Mined Countries by Region
|
| Africa | Angola
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Mozambique |
| Americas | Colombia
Nicaragua |
| Asia/Pacific | Afghanistan
Cambodia
Korea, DPR
Korea, RO
Sri Lanka |
| Europe/Central Asia | Bosnia & Herzegovina
Croatia
Cyprus
Greece
Serbia & Montenegro
Turkey |
| Middle East/North Africa | Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Yemen |
Source: ICBL Landmine Monitor Report 2003
Countries that manufacture landmines include: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, North Korea, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, U.K., U.S., Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
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Types of Landmines
Directional fragmentation mine: These weapons are mounted above ground and packed with steel balls or metal fragments. They are detonated by trip wire or remote control. The mines can propel the balls 50 metres.
Blast mine: Blast mines are laid on the ground or buried just beneath the surface. They are detonated by pressure of footstep.
Fragmentation mine: These mines are laid above ground, and are often fixed to stakes. They are detonated when a person walks into a trip wire. Fragmentation mines can project fragments over a 20-metre radius.
Bounding mine: These are usually buried. Pressure to trip a wire or fuse atop the mine causes a small explosion and propels the mine one metre upward where it explodes and scatters fragments.
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