Perspective Building Activity The Deadly Butterfly Landmines and

Perspective. Building Activity

The Deadly Butterfly: Landmines and the Children of Afghanistan Blake Douglas Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Landmine: Technical definition A landmine is “an explosive device usually placed just below the surface of the ground and designed to be exploded usually by the weight of vehicles or troops passing over it. ” This issue involves other “unexploded ordnance” as well, which is simply other explosive material left over from warfare Two types: Anti-personnel Anti-vehicle

Examples Anti-Personnel Anti-Vehicle

Worldwide Epidemic Warfare or armed conflict leads to spread of landmines as weapon or defensive measure; most of these mines remain active long after end of conflict Spread most in 1970 s, 80 s, and 90 s Civilians then accidentally and usually unknowingly detonate mine, causing severe injury (loss of limbs) or death The United Nations estimates over 110 million active landmines in 68 or more different countries Equal number stockpiled Over 2, 000 people killed or seriously injured by mine incidents every month Estimated cost of removing all the landmines from the world is approximately $33 billion

Why Afghanistan? Widely considered the most heavily-mined country Nearly constant state of instability and war since 1970 s has left Afghanistan riddled with mines Afghan-Soviet War; civil war/unrest; rise of Taliban; US conflict Some estimates as low as 470, 000 active mines in the country However, some UN estimates say over 10 million mines in Afghanistan alone A study found that 1, 706 landmine casualties occurred in Afghanistan in 2002; 1, 049 in 2003, and slightly declining numbers since Overall, Afghanistan, Angola and Cambodia account for 85% of world’s landmine casualties

Why Children? Children are particularly vulnerable to landmines for a variety of reasons First and foremost, children are more curious and playful —often think landmines are toys Children also more ignorant of existence of landmines Leads to a disproportionate amount of child victims: 47% of landmine casualties from 2002 -2006 in Afghanistan were civilians under age 18

Particularly dangerous to Afghan Children… Notorious Soviet “butterfly” mine

The Various Effects of Landmine incidents on children Sociological effects of civilian death toll Psychological consequences of losing limbs or other injuries Many child landmine victims orphaned because adults believe child will no longer be productive Various economic, environmental, and political effects as well

International Action Anti-personnel mines were banned by international agreement in 1997 called the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction Or, for simplicity, the Ottawa Treaty or Mine Ban Treaty 159 states have ratified this treaty as of 2011 A few key states have yet to ratify, including the United States

Further action A multitude of United Nations demining programs have been established in Afghanistan to clear mines First UN demining effort was in Afghanistan; UN Mine Action Program for Afghanistan Many more today, including HALO trust Advocacy groups, promoting mine awareness and funding for removal International Campaign to Ban Mines, E-Mine (UN mine advocacy network) United States Army Corps of Engineers works to remove mines and other battlefield debris from the country

More must be done… Demining efforts must be increased In particular, more time must be spent by the UN and other organizations on mine education Despite current efforts, United States should increase demining efforts and forces in Afghanistan United States military advisors, who currently train new Afghan forces, should also train Afghan troops in mine clearance

Conclusion and Questions

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