Global Call to Address Escalating Landmine Contamination
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.
(Relief Web) The HALO Trust's "Clearing the Mines" report highlights a critical decline in global landmine clearance, with a 10% drop in anti-personnel mines removed in 2023. A total of 192,563 mines were cleared, which is 21,193 fewer than in 2022. This drop, coupled with an 18% decrease in funding over the past decade, exacerbates mine contamination issues in conflict zones such as Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, and Gaza. The report urges global recommitment to the Landmine Ban Treaty and increased funding, particularly as 59 conflicts rage worldwide.
CEO James Cowan emphasizes that recovery from war and civilian safety hinge on landmine clearance, but funding shortages limit HALO’s workforce across affected regions. Zimbabwe, facing its own funding crisis, has made progress but may have to reduce its workforce. The urgent need for funding extends to areas like Afghanistan and Iraq, where improvised explosive devices (IEDs) now contaminate vast areas.
