An unprecedented compilation of this magnitude requires contribution from a broad network of individuals, campaigns and organizations, coordination by a dedicated team and financial support from a number of donors.

This report contains country reports written by 115 Landmine Monitor researchers from 95 countries of the world selected by the Landmine Monitor Core Group. They are cited separately in the List of Contributors. Landmine Monitor is grateful to everyone who contributed research to this report, especially those individuals, campaigns and organizations who contributed reports at their own cost. We wish to thank the scores of individuals, campaigns, non-governmental and international organizations, mine action practitioners, and governments, who provided valuable and timely information to our researchers.

We are grateful to the Coordination Team and Working Groups of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines for providing the sections on ICBL activities and for their essential assistance in the release and distribution of the annual Landmine Monitor reports. We thank the invited governments, United Nations agencies, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and non-governmental organizations for submitting reports on their activities which are included in the appendices to this report. We are deeply appreciative to the researchers who provided thematic reports, of which the summaries are included in the Appendices. The entities contributing to the appendices of this report do not necessarily endorse the rest of the Landmine Monitor Report 2000 and they are in no way responsible for other material contained in this report. Likewise, Landmine Monitor does not necessarily endorse, nor does it take responsibility for the accuracy of, material included in the appendices.

Responsibility for the coordination of Landmine Monitor's reporting network lies with the five Core Group organizations and additional organizations and individuals.

· Human Rights Watch (Stephen Goose, Mark Hiznay, Alex Vines and Mary Wareham) is the main contact point for Landmine Monitor, thematic coordinator on ban policy and regional research coordinator for the Middle East/North Africa, Pacific, Lusophone Africa, and Central Asia.

· Handicap International (Anne Capelle, Pauline Crick, Luciano Loicano-Clouet, Bertrand Cagne and Emmanuelle Amar) is the thematic coordinator on victim assistance and regional research coordinator for Asia and Francophone Africa.

· Kenya Coalition Against Landmines (Mereso Agina and Cornelius Nyamboki) is regional research coordinator for Africa.

· Mines Action Canada (Rita Armstrong, Charlie Avendaño, Kathleen Gotts, Paul Hannon and Celina Tuttle) is responsible for Landmine Monitor's Database and regional research coordinator for the Americas. The tables contained in this report were prepared by Mines Action Canada.

· Norwegian People's Aid (Ellen Heggestad, Per Nergaard, Janecke Wille, and Christian Ruge) is thematic coordinator for mine action.

· Stuart Maslen provided the thematic overview on mine awareness.

· The Institute for Practical Research and Training (Ahmed H. Esa) provided research coordination for the Horn of Africa.

· From April 2000 onwards, the U.K. Working Group on Landmines (Ian Doucet) provided research coordination for Europe.

Initial edits on Landmine Monitor Report 2000 were completed by the regional research coordinators in May-July 2000 and final editing was done by the Arms Division of Human Rights Watch in June-July 2000. The HRW editing team consisted of Stephen Goose (chief editor), Mary Wareham, Alex Vines, Mark Hiznay, and Jody Williams (ICBL Ambassador and member of the Advisory Committee of the Arms Division of Human Rights Watch). Editorial assistance and review was provided by various members of the Human Rights Watch staff. Mary Wareham served as the overall coordinator for the production of the report. Jasmine Juteau and Hannah Novak of the Arms Division proofread, formatted, and provided production assistance, with the aid of Haizam Amirah-Fernandez, Karen Binger, Nicola Brandt, Christian Phillips, and Patrick Minges. Human Rights Watch was responsible for the printing of Landmine Monitor Report 2000 and for web publication, with special assistance by Hannah Novak and Patrick Minges in cooperation with the ICBL webmaster Kjell Knudsen.

We are grateful to the hosts of the two international meetings necessary to bring together the Landmine Monitor's reporting network and facilitate production of this second annual report:

· Handicap International and the Government of Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for co-hosting the February 2000 meeting in Brussels, Belgium;

· NOVIB and The Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs for co-hosting the May 2000 meeting in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.

Finally, we wish to thank the donors to the Landmine Monitor initiative and its second annual report. This work was carried out with the aid of grants from:

· Government of Australia

· Government of Austria

· Government of Belgium

· Government of Canada

· Government of Denmark

· Government of France

· Government of Germany

· Government of Japan

· Government of The Netherlands

· Government of Norway

· Government of Switzerland

· Government of United Kingdom

· Open Society Institute Landmines Project

· Merck Fund (USA)

We also thank the donors who have contributed to the individual members of the Landmine Monitor Core Group and other participating organizations.