Handicap International: land mine casualties drop in 2006; victim aid often insufficient

The Associated Press
The International Herald Tribune Europe
Monday, November 12, 2007

BRUSSELS, Belgium: The number of people killed or injured in explosions of land mines and other leftover munitions fell in 2006, but the ranks of survivors, many badly maimed, neared half a million or more, Handicap International said Monday.

The Brussels-based group said in an annual report that land mines and similar explosives killed or wounded 5,751 people in 68 countries — most of them civilians, many of them children.

It called government assistance for victims often insufficient.

While the 2006 casualty toll was down 16 percent from 2005 — and less than half of the 2002 toll of 11,700 — "many more casualties go unreported" and 92 percent occur in places with no or limited mine data collection, Handicap International said.

Land mines, which explode from proximity or contact with a person, are still used by governments in Russia and Myanmar and rebel groups in at least eight countries, said Handicap International.

"The near total halt of the use and trade of anti-personnel mines, as well as the destruction of millions of stockpiled mines and the increased de-mining efforts, clearly show the Mine Ban Treaty is successful," said Marc Joolen, a Handicap International executive.

The 1997 treaty aims to rid the world of mines, and deals with mine use, production and trade, victim assistance, clearance and stockpile destruction. Forty nations still remain outside of the treaty, including China, Egypt, Finland, India, Israel, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia and the United States.

Although the treaty addresses victim assistance, few governments have solid programs, said Handicap International.

It put the number of survivors to date of what it calls "explosive remnants of war" at 473,000 but cautioned that was "likely an underestimate as many survivors are not officially registered" with governments or aid groups. Victims of mine explosions often lose limbs and typically require new prostheses every three years.

"Progress toward meeting the needs and rights of survivors is insufficient," said Stan Brabant, a spokesman for Handicap International. "States, the European Union and the international community should increase support for individuals, families and communities, affected by mines, cluster munitions or other explosives remnants of war."

Handicap International estimates the 40 nations that remain outside the land mine treaty possess 160 million land mines and that 13 still produce, or claim the right to produce, such weapons, including the United States and China.

The Handicap International report said globally a record US$475 million (€326 million) was spent last year to clear and disarm explosives mines, up 25 percent from 2005.