Spike in landmine victims in 2015 cause for concern

Defused PMN-2 landmines in Pursat, Cambodia. Photo: Peter Dudley

New use of anti-personnel landmines and victim-activated weapons have caused a sudden spike in the number of people killed or wounded in 2015, according to the recently released 2016 Landmine Monitor.

Landmine Monitor recorded 6,461 casualties for calendar year 2015. This represents a 75 per cent increase in the number of casualties from 2014. On average, 18 people per day were killed or injured, with the vast majority of casualties — 78 per cent — being civilians.

While casualties were up last year, global funding for mine action was down. Donors contributed US$340 million in 2015 — the first time donor support fell below $US400 million since 2005.

“At a time when casualties are increasing, it is worrying to find decreasing international and national support to clear mine-contaminated land and assist landmine victims,” said Jeff Abramson, program manager and final editor of Landmine Monitor 2016, in a press release.

Canadian mine action funding improved in 2015 and moved the country back into the top ten donor nations. Canada contributed almost C$11,447,904 million last year —compared to C$8,462,841 in 2014.

The Ottawa-based NGO, Mines Action Canada (MAC), has long called for Canada to contribute one dollar for every Canadian to mine action. Canada’s current population is 36 million.

Despite Canada returning to being a top 10 donor to international mine action in 2015, the world still has a long way to go before it can call itself mine free.

“The Monitor report continues to show steady progress but we are seeing some things happening in this reporting period such as a sharp increase in new casualties, a decrease in area cleared and a decrease in funding,” said Paul Hannon, executive director of MAC at a press conference in Ottawa. "We view these as worrisome and we hope this is not the start of a trend.”

Mr. Hannon wants Canada to return to being a top five donor and again become a political and diplomatic leader on the landmine file. The goal of states that have signed onto the Mine Ban Treaty is to be mine free by 2025.

"Canada remains firmly committed to advancing the goals of the Ottawa Convention, including support for mine clearance, stockpile destruction, risk education, victim assistance and advocacy in support of the universalization and full implementation of the Convention," said a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada in an email response to questions from Canadian Newsblog.

"Global Affairs Canada is looking for ways to make further contributions to mine action from both a policy and programming perspective," she added.

At the press conference in Ottawa, Erin Hunt, program coordinator at MAC said: “A Yemeni colleague told us to hope for peace, but look for funding.”