Historic Mine Ban Treaty at Risk as Clearance Rates Decline
The global effort to eliminate landmines is facing a critical setback as clearance rates plummet, prompting urgent calls for renewed commitment to the Landmine Ban Treaty amidst escalating conflicts worldwide.
The HALO Trust has issued a stark warning regarding the Landmine Ban Treaty, highlighting a 10% decrease in the clearance of anti-personnel mines in 2023, reliefweb revealed yesterday.
The recent “Clearing the Mines” report from Mine Action Review reveals that only 192,563 mines were destroyed this year, a decline of 21,193 from 2022. This drop underscores an urgent need for increased political commitment and funding, particularly as 59 conflicts continue worldwide.
Funding for mine clearance has fallen by 18% over the past decade, equating to a loss of $1.18 billion. James Cowan, CEO of The HALO Trust, emphasized that recovery from war is impossible without clearing explosive remnants. Notably, Ukraine is significantly contaminated, with HALO operating in other heavily affected regions like Yemen and Syria, where funding is critically low.
Currently, 60 countries are known to be contaminated by landmines, with HALO active in one-third of them. These include the four countries listed as having ‘massive contamination,’ namely Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, and Ukraine.
The report stresses the necessity for immediate global action to address this escalating crisis and ensure civilian safety in conflict zones.
