Today’s sky in northern New Mexico is cloudless and a spectacular blue. I sit in our spare bedroom that I share daily with our dog. From her perch on the bed, Tindy delights in rushing out to greet my husband’s music students, leading them to his voice and piano studio and then returning to my side. I open messages which include several blogs and analyses related to Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine and, of course, the recent US elections.
But today’s readings do not sync with my beautiful surroundings. I am wading through a report prepared for the Fifth Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Landmine Convention that will be held in Cambodia from 25 to 29 November.
Click here for the report "Clearing the Mines 2024"
See also Reliefweb article "Mine ban treaty at risk"
Produced by Mine Action Group, The Halo Trust and Norwegian People’s Aid, Clearing the Mines 2024 makes for dismal reading. As is my wont, I check out a dozen or two other related sources, going back to my days as Chief of UNICEF’s Landmines and Small Arms Team, from 2006 to 2008. I am trying to find additional details about US arms shipments to Israel and whether landmines are being used in Sudan.
Nothing that I am coming across, including Clearing the Mines, is very uplifting. Yes, some of the 164 States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban are fulfilling their obligations. Some countries like Angola and Cambodia are moving forward positively in meeting the Convention’s obligations. But 58 countries and two territories are included in this report as they remain contaminated with these terrible weapons and, far too frequently, with cluster munitions, unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war.
The report contains some current information, but most data is from 2023, with limited information about 2024. It thus misses much of the recent destruction that mines and UXO and, unfortunately, drones are wreaking in Sudan, Lebanon, Palestine, Myanmar and dozens of other countries or territories.
Some 192,563 AP mines were destroyed globally in area clearance and spot tasks in 2023, across 26 States Parties, 7 States not party, and two other areas. This is 21,000 fewer than in 2022.
By the way, the United States has never signed or ratified this landmark treaty, which will mark its 27th anniversary this December. Meanwhile, the US is still the largest producer and exporter of weapons globally. Arms exports by the US rose by 17 per cent between 2014 and 2023 (Source: SIPRI). This does not include the billions of dollars of weapons provided to Israel in 2024.
The 600-page report is worth a scan (see link above). The summary is easy to read and the list of countries included in the report is on page vi. The bulk of the report is a summary of 3-4 pages for each of those countries/territories.
Paula can be reached at paula.claycomb@gmail.com
Produced by Mine Action Group, The Halo Trust and Norwegian People’s Aid, Clearing the Mines 2024 makes for dismal reading. As is my wont, I check out a dozen or two other related sources, going back to my days as Chief of UNICEF’s Landmines and Small Arms Team, from 2006 to 2008. I am trying to find additional details about US arms shipments to Israel and whether landmines are being used in Sudan.
Nothing that I am coming across, including Clearing the Mines, is very uplifting. Yes, some of the 164 States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban are fulfilling their obligations. Some countries like Angola and Cambodia are moving forward positively in meeting the Convention’s obligations. But 58 countries and two territories are included in this report as they remain contaminated with these terrible weapons and, far too frequently, with cluster munitions, unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war.
The report contains some current information, but most data is from 2023, with limited information about 2024. It thus misses much of the recent destruction that mines and UXO and, unfortunately, drones are wreaking in Sudan, Lebanon, Palestine, Myanmar and dozens of other countries or territories.
Some 192,563 AP mines were destroyed globally in area clearance and spot tasks in 2023, across 26 States Parties, 7 States not party, and two other areas. This is 21,000 fewer than in 2022.
By the way, the United States has never signed or ratified this landmark treaty, which will mark its 27th anniversary this December. Meanwhile, the US is still the largest producer and exporter of weapons globally. Arms exports by the US rose by 17 per cent between 2014 and 2023 (Source: SIPRI). This does not include the billions of dollars of weapons provided to Israel in 2024.
The 600-page report is worth a scan (see link above). The summary is easy to read and the list of countries included in the report is on page vi. The bulk of the report is a summary of 3-4 pages for each of those countries/territories.
Paula can be reached at paula.claycomb@gmail.com
Many thanks for your article,
ReplyDeletePaula. Brings back memories—Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Angola…
Thank you Paula for keeping the lights on to this important aspect of our times when so few seem to care about the adverse effects of these explosives, especially on children. The current crises in Gaza, Palestine, Sudan and others attest to the sad fact that such instruments of war continue to make victims , especially vulnerable ones, in many places aroiund the world. Alfred Nobel must be really turning in his tomb !!!
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