The global landmine crisis is one of the most pervasive problems facing the world today. There are currently between sixty and seventy million landmines in the ground across at least seventy different countries. Estimates of the number of landmines deployed vary widely because the precise mine locations are rarely known. Each year, however, landmines maim or kill approximately 26,000 civilians, including about 9,000 children. Those victims that survive endure lifetimes of physical, psychological, and economic hardship.

The true measure of the landmine crisis is its impact on mine-affected communities. In addition to bringing death and destruction, minefield areas are rendered uninhabitable and cannot be cultivated or put to productive use due to the actual or feared threat from the presence of mines. The tragedy that befalls mine victims and their families and communities is a powerful deterrent to anyone who might otherwise use land for productive purposes or basic everyday activities. Unfortunately, fundamental human instincts and the need for food all too often compel adults and children alike to enter mined areas.

Antipersonnel landmines, used traditionally for defensive military purposes, have been increasingly deployed as offensive weapons. Such use is designed to target civilian populations, disrupt lives and displace entire communities from their homes and agricultural bases - to inflict maximum harm on victims and to create a state of military, political, social, and economic imbalance in war-torn societies. To date, fifty-four countries have produced more than 340 different models of antipersonnel landmines. Costing as little as $3 to produce, they are relatively easy to deploy and can be laid anywhere, including roads, paths, fields, buildings, waterways, bridges, forests, and deserts. By contrast, it costs between $300 and $1,000 to locate and destroy a single mine, typically a very complex and time-consuming task.

In recent years, the international community has made significant progress in addressing the global landmine crisis. An international agreement, known as the Mine Ban Treaty took effect on March 1, 1999, more quickly than any international treaty in history. International and nongovernmental organizations are working with mine-affected countries to establish mine- awareness campaigns and victims assistance programs. In addition, the United Nations is coordinating a global effort to survey the state of global landmine contamination, and private and public groups are undertaking mine clearance efforts in more countries than ever before. Yet, with all these accomplishments, the international community continues to face overwhelming challenges. Incredibly, for every 50,000 mines removed from the ground, an estimated two million new mines are deployed.

Source: www.landmines.org