Landmines pose an ever-present danger to everyone within the borders of Afghanistan; its citizens and the soldiers of the world charged with keeping peace for them. Last year, the Red Cross recorded 1,286 landmine deaths in Afghanistan, one of the highest mine tolls anywhere on Earth. Numerous other casualties are believed to have gone unreported.
It is generally estimated that millions of landmines are scattered throughout this war-torn country. Though the new government of Afghanistan banned landmines in 2002, the country remains heavily mined, with some 344 million square metres of mined land classified as high priority for clearance. Landmines are everywhere in Afghanistan -- in urban and commercial areas, towns and villages, as well as in farmlands, grazing lands and along transport roads. According to the United Nations, over 1,500 villages in 27 of the country's 29 provinces were affected by landmines in 2002.
Yesterday, five Canadian peacekeepers became victims of Afghanistan's landmine legacy. Two Canadian soldiers were killed in the Afghan capital of Kabul, and three others were wounded. An anti-vehicle mine is believed to be cause of these deaths and casualties. It remains unknown whether the mine was newly laid, or dates from the country's decades of mine use by the many armies and factions that have battled in Afghanistan.
Evidence suggests new mines have been laid in Afghanistan. According to the Landmine Monitor Report 2003, released last month by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, there were several incidents in both 2002 and 2003 in which former Taliban, and other anti-government forces, were suspected of using, or attempting to use landmines --mainly anti-vehicle mines and radio-controlled mines -- to target foreign troops and new Afghan army forces.
The Canadian mine victims join a growing list of foreign troops and deminers who have fallen victim to Afghanistan's landmines and unexploded ordnance (what's known as UXO). In 2002 and 2003, soldiers and peacekeepers from several countries including Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland and the U.S. were killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan as they engaged in mine clearance operations, patrolled, or undertook other activities.
Last year, landmines and UXO killed five U.S. soldiers and injured 10 in Afghanistan, while 12 Afghan deminers were killed and 28 others injured in landmine and UXO accidents. In May, 2003, the first death in Afghanistan's nascent national army occurred when an Afghan soldier, who was fresh from training, stepped on a landmine while on patrol.
These casualties are just the tip of the iceberg. More than 100 civilian casualties are believed to result from mines and unexploded ordnances every month in Afghanistan. Last year, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported that the country is one of the most heavily mine-affected places in the world.
Still, many more casualties are believed to go unreported. Decades of conflict have had a severe impact on health care in Afghanistan, leaving much of the medical infrastructure damaged or destroyed. Unlike the foreign mine victims, many Afghans never survive long enough to reach the few hospitals that exist.
To counter this continual flow of mine casualties, Afghanistan has in place one of the world's oldest and largest demining programs, employing more than 5,000 deminers. An extensive effort continues to provide mine-risk education to people living in mined areas. On Sept. 11, 2002, Afghanistan joined the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, known as the Ottawa Treaty, making it one of the first international agreements embraced by the new post-war government.
Last month in Bangkok, Dr. M. Haider Reza, the deputy foreign minister of Afghanistan, led his country's first delegation to one of the treaty's annual diplomatic meetings. He warned of financial shortfalls affecting the mine clearance program and said, "We want the refugees to come home, we want our people to be safe, we want our children to go to school. We want Afghanistan to stand strong among the nations of the world."
For several years, Canada has been doing its part to help Afghanistan reach these goals. This support intensified with the provision of the contingent of peacekeepers who began their mission in August. In 2002 and 2003, Canada provided $8.8-million in mine-action assistance to Afghanistan. To tackle the root of the mine problem, Canada continues to push forward diplomatic efforts to ensure that the Ottawa Treaty is adhered to and implemented by all.
The latest landmine deaths of Canadians serve as a sorry reminder that, despite these diplomatic, financial, humanitarian and political efforts, there is still a long way to go before we can say we have won the battle against this indiscriminate weapon.
Mary Wareham is Senior Advocate in the Arms Division of Human Rights Watch in Washington, D.C., and Global Research Co-ordinator of the Landmine Monitor Research Initiative.
