landmines
CARE International Policy Statement on Land Mines
Land mines constitute a major humanitarian catastrophe. Mines kill thousands of innocent civilians every year and also have a devastating effect on the economic well-being of families, especialy in poor communities. CARE is undertaking a two-pronged strategy in response to this crisis: first, we intend to expand our work related to the land mine problem (mine awareness, mine clearance, mine demarcation, and staff training). Second, we will give strong support to an immediate ban of these indiscriminate and cruel weapons.
- The Challenge
- What CARE is Doing About Land Mines Programmatically
- How Land Mines Affect CARE
- The Movement to Ban the Production, Export and Use of Land Mines
According to the UN, there are up to 110 million land mines scattered in 64 countries (39 of which are countries in which CARE works) and over 2 million more are being added each year. More than 20,000 people, most of them innocent civilians, are killed and maimed by mines each year.
Beyond the direct costs in lives and traumatic injuries, land mines impede or halt development efforts in poor countries. Mined roads fall into disuse, stopping commerce. Mined fields render arable land useless, as farmers are afraid to plant and harvest crops. Meanwhile the costs of mine clearance are high--the UN estimates it can cost as much as US $1200 to locate and clear a mine purchased for as little as US$3.
What CARE is Doing About Land Mines Programmatically
CARE is currently doing mine action programs in two countries and hopes to expand its work in this area. In Angola, CARE is training demobilized soldiers in mine clearance techniques in Cuando Cubango Province. CARE is also promoting mine awareness in Huila, Cuene, northern Cuando Cubango, and Bie, and teaching women and children what to do when they encounter unexploded mines. In Cambodia, CARE is involved in clearing mines as part of a larger effort to rehabilitate rural roads in Banteay, Meanchey, and Siem Reap Provinces. The CARE demining teams are locating and marking approximately 100 pieces of ordinance per week.
In Mozambique in 1994, CARE trained 1,500 residents from eight villages in mine awareness. The three-month project was designed to assure safe access to 18 water wells in three provinces. By the project's end, CARE and its demining contractor had cleared access to all the wells and had gathered valuable information on other potentially mined areas. Ninety-five percent of the mines that were destroyed were discovered by the trained villagers.
In Ethiopia, land mines have killed one CARE employee and seriously injured two others since 1990. In Afghanistan, land mines killed two CARE employees in 1996, and two others were injured in earlier incidents. Furthermore, CARE has lost more than $425,000 in vehicles in 12 separate incidents.
Land mines have also prevented CARE staff from undertaking relief and development work. In Ethiopia, in the words of Robin Needham, "At various times, particularly in 1991 and 1992, we had to suspend major parts of the program for varying lengths of time because of mines or threats of mines on the main roads and secondary roads leading to our project areas."
In Afghanistan, both urban and rural water projects have been delayed or terminated due to land mines. Most districts in which CARE works report at least monthly if not weekly casualties due to mines. In Rwanda, many agencies do not travel dirt roads in the northwest, west and southwest of the country.
The Movement to Ban the Production, Export and Use of Land Mines
CARE USA joined the International Campaign to Ban Landmines in June, 1995. This campaign was initiated four years ago by the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation and has grown to include more than 150 organizations in the United States and more than 400 organizations worldwide. Other international NGOs who are members include Save the Children, World Vision, the American Red Cross, International Rescue Committee. and Lutheran World Relief.
The international movement to ban land mines has won significant support over the last 12 months. In September, 1995, there were 14 governments supporting a ban; by July, 1996, there were 41. Governments that have come out in support of a ban include those of a number of countries that belong to CARE International (CI): Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, and Norway. Among CI member countries, only the US and UK governments have said they will pursue an international agreement to ban land mines but in the meantime they will use land mines on an exceptional basis--the US says mines are needed to protect troops in South Korea, for example. Organizations which are out in front in the movement to ban land mines include the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF, an NGO called the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), as well as the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation.
September 26, 1996
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