Double Jeopardy: Human Cost of Weapon Contamination in Asia-Pacific
CISR
This headline is brought to you by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR) which works to support resilience and recovery in global communities affected by war and conflict.
(ReliefWeb) For victims of landmine explosions or unexploded ordnance, ordinary activities can suddenly turn life-altering due to explosive remnants of war, long after conflicts end. These devices continue to kill, maim, and traumatize civilians, obstruct access to healthcare, damage infrastructure, hinder agriculture, and prevent displaced people from returning home.
International humanitarian law (IHL) mandates that states and conflict parties take measures to minimize these risks. Highlighting this, stories from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan, and the Philippines reveal the human cost of weapon contamination. Survivors share their struggles with physical pain, psychological trauma, and financial difficulties, and their journeys towards recovery and hope with assistance.
