AFGHANISTAN DIFFERENTLY, LANDMINES AND HUMANITARIAN MINE CLEARANCE IN AFGHANISTAN

Abstract

Afghanistan is the most mine ridden country in the world; the last estimate was 6 to 7 million mines laid, to which must be added a great deal of additional unexploded ordnance. Mine were intensively laid during the Soviet occupation, as well as after it. Suspect and mined areas are still constantly being discovered in Afghanistan and, to date, 52 different types of mine have been found from 12 different countries, although 57% are of Soviet make. During attacks on the Taliban, the Americans also used unstable cassette bombs, which further increased the amount of unexploded ordnance. Mines have continued to be laid since 2001, and Taliban groups use mainly improvised ordnance. The first programme of humanitarian demining on a world scale was formed precisely in Afghanistan soon after the withdrawal of the Soviet army, and the programme is headed and coordinated by the United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (UNMACA) and implemented by 17 different organisations. All three main techniques of demining are used in Afghanistan, and it was here that dogs were first also used on a trial basis for demining. There are currently 8,200 people employed in demining, and the basic problem is financing and the lack of general security. Afghanistan also has a very large number of accidents with mines, the majority of which are fatal. There are also a large number of working accidents. A plan has been made under which demining would be completed in two five-year cycles by 2012, and by 2010, the Afghan authorities should take over heading and coordinating demining.