When were landmines planted in Afghanistan?
1979-1992
The vast majority of mines now in Afghanistan were laid by the Soviet Union in its war with the mujahideen from 1979-1992. Many of the mines were remotely delivered, by helicopter and airplane.
Why are there a lot of landmines in Afghanistan?
Minefields have been laid by both Soviet and Afghan forces, and mines have been used in all phases of the Afghan conflict: in vast quantities during the Soviet occupation, during the power struggle between mujaheddin commanders after the Soviet withdrawal, and now during fighting between Taliban forces and other Afghan …
Who planted the landmines in Afghanistan?
most were laid by Soviet and pro-Soviet Afghan government forces from 1979-1992. At least fifty different types of mines have been identified in Afghanistan of Belgian, Chinese, ex- Czechoslovakian, Iranian, Italian, Pakistani, Singaporean, ex-USSR, United Kingdom, ex- Yugoslavian, and Zimbabwean manufacture.
Does Afghanistan still have landmines?
About 41,085 Afghan civilians have been killed or injured by landmines and undetonated munitions, according to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). Some 81.4 per cent of known minefields in Afghanistan have been cleared, according to UNMAS. This is about 3,300 square kilometres of land.
Can you disarm a landmine?
Detection and removal of landmines is a dangerous activity, and personal protective equipment does not protect against all types of landmine. Once found, mines are generally defused or blown up with more explosives, but it is possible to destroy them with certain chemicals or extreme heat without making them explode.
Are there landmines in the Philippines?
The Philippines is a signatory to the 1999 Ottawa Convention, or the Mine Ban Treaty.” “This incident is not a mere ‘tactical error’, as these mines were planted there to inflict pain and damage,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement.
How are landmines removed?
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing land mines from an area. In military operations, the object is to rapidly clear a path through a minefield, and this is often done with devices such as mine plows and blast waves. Mechanical devices such as flails and excavators are sometimes used to clear mines.
What is it like to be a child in Afghanistan?
A report published by Unicef identifies Afghanistan as the “worst place to be born in the world”: Indeed, Afghan children are subjected to extreme poverty and violence on a daily basis. Their situation is in fact critical: child mortality, malnutrition, forced marriages, sexual abuse…
How are landmines cleared?
Explosives in landmines can also be detected directly using nuclear quadrupole resonance and neutron probes. Once found, mines are generally defused or blown up with more explosives, but it is possible to destroy them with certain chemicals or extreme heat without making them explode.
How big are the landmines in Afghanistan?
Landmines and other unexploded battlefield detritus, commonly known as unexploded ordnance (UXO), contaminate at least 724 million square meters of land in Afghanistan. Only two of Afghanistan’s twenty-nine provinces are believed to be free of landmines.
How many landmines have been cleared in Central Asia?
In Herat Province alone, we cleared over 600 minefields , including land around the 15 th Century Minarets of the Husain Baiqara Madrasa. Across rural districts we have made land safe so farmers can grow crops and graze cattle.
Which is the most heavily mined Province in Afghanistan?
The most heavily mined provinces are Herat and Kandahar. Kandahar is the stronghold of the Taliban and a likely focal point for armed conflict. Other heavily infested provinces include Farah, Paktia, Kabul, Zabul, Ghazni, and Paktika.
Where are most landmines planted in the world?
Landmines have been planted indiscriminately over most of the country. Grazing areas, agricultural land, irrigation systems, residential areas, and roads and footpaths, in both urban and rural areas, are contaminated. 2 For years, mines have been a major obstacle to repatriation, relief, rehabilitation, and development activities.
