DUBAI, 4 April 2010 (IRIN): Landmines and the explosive remnants of war kill or injure 15.000-20.000 people a year in at least 78 countries, according to the UN Mine Action Centre.
While several international agreements exist to regulate or ban landmines, most notably the Mine Ban Treaty in 1999, momentum is gathering to do more to minimise these effects of armed conflict for humanitarian reasons.
To this effect, on 8 December 2005 the UN General Assembly agreed to establish an International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action to be observed every 4 April.
– Landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to inflict a terrible toll. These indiscriminate weapons cause grievous injuries and death, hamper reconstruction in post-conflict zones, damage the environment, and are an obstacle to socioeconomic and development activities long after conflicts have ended, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message for this year’s mine awareness day.
