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Demining In Bihac With 5 Korpusa Of The Bosnian Army, Peter Hindy

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Despite the end to years of brutal fighting in Bosnia, landmines left behind from the war still threaten the safety of local populations. The following article gives a firsthand account of a former Canadian soldier’s demining experience in Bosnia alongside the Bosnian army.

Mine Victim Assistance As A Part Of Strengthening The Health Sector In Azerbaijan, Rauf Mamedov, Aziz Aliyev

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In July 1998, following consultation with its UN partners, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), acting in its capacity as a focal point for all mine-related activities within the UN system, offered to field a multidisciplinary inter-agency mission to assess the requirement for further UN assistance in Azerbaijan. The mission found a serious dearth of recorded data concerning mine/UXO casualties. Even agencies dealing directly with mine victims, such as hospitals and prosthetic centers, have no mechanisms to disaggregate data on mine/UXO victims from other war-related injuries.

Mine Action In Bosnia’S Special District: A Case Study, Matthew Bolton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Brčko Municipality, located in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), was a fierce battleground during the war from 1992 to 1995. Because of the Brčko district’s unique, strategic and symbolic significance to all sides of the conflict, it was the only issue left unresolved by the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war in December 1995, which had divided the country into two decentralized semi-autonomous “entities”: the Republika Srpska (populated mostly by Serbs) and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (populated mostly by Bosniaks and Croats).

Ddg Initiates Mre In Ingushetia And Chechnya, Michaëla Bock Pedersen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Danish Demining Group (DDG) aims to educate internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mine Risk Education (MRE) through public institutions, food distribution points, traffic junctions, services at mosques and school programs.

Stop Mines Launches Landmine Survivor Project, Radosav Zivkovic, Megan Burke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Stop Mines, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), is currently training 10 landmine survivors to become beekeepers through the “May Life Be Sweet” project. A small portion of the money raised through the sale of honey will be used to fund the training of other landmine survivors. This project has been funded by Adopt-A-Minefield (AAM), a program of the United Nations Association of the U.S.A. and in partnership with the Better World Fund, through its survivor assistance program.

Kosovo After The Unmacc And Beyond, Steven E. Saunders

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Over the past few years, the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre (UNMACC) has transferred mine action responsibilities to national organizations within Kosovo. The following article discusses how a number of different agencies within Kosovo are working together in various capacities to address mine action issues.

Mine Action Clearance Operations Set To Begin In Tajikistan, Kevin Dansereau, Ian Clarke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in conjunction with the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) signed an agreement in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, at the end of May that will begin the first internationally-supported mine action program in Tajikistan. The following article provides a brief discussion of the landmine situation in Tajikistan and the goals of the new mine action project.

Taming The Minefields, Davor Druzijanic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Demining is a dangerous, labor-intensive and costly process. An underlying precept of successful demining operation is a perfect safety record. The question is, how can a perfect safety record be achieved while the overall cost of the demining operation be reduced at the same time? It is not an easy or simple task, but with a good tool box and a skilled management team this can be accomplished.

Hierarchic Approach To Mine Action In Croatia, Nenad Mladineo, Snjezana Knezic, Damir Gorseta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Republic of Croatia is one of the 10 most mine-contaminated countries in the world. There are almost 750,000 mines on 1,630 sq km of mine-suspected areas. About 170 sq km are actual minefields, while the rest of the area is contaminated with individual explosive ordnance. Mine-affected areas that have not been used for years, pose a huge economic problem and obstruct infrastructure development, reconstruction, and return of displaced persons to their normal lives. They also pose a significant safety problem. In particular, any activities carried out in mine-contaminated areas significantly threaten human lives and material assets. It is estimated …

Uidma In Bosnia And Herzegovina, With Possibilities For Wider Use, Almir Budalica

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) recognized the need for and developed a new model of the Unique Identifier of Mine Action (UIDMA). The author outlines the new model and its benefits in identifying aspects of mine action.

Demining Law In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Marija Alilovic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In February 2002, a unique state-level Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center (BHMAC) structure was created. The adopted law created a legal framework for demining operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following is an overview of the BHMAC structure and operations.

From Puppets To Empowerment: The Bosnia And Herzegovina Genesis Project, Dijana Pejic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Genesis Project is a local, non-governmental, non-profit, humanitarian organization established in June 1996 in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The main project objectives are the following:

• Interactive education of children through live puppet show performances representing diverse educational topics (mine risk education (MRE), children’s rights, prevention of all sorts of addictions, etc.).

• Education of children and youth about healthy lifestyles.

• Community strengthening with the purpose of informing the public on freedom of speech, democracy and fundamental human rights.

• Assistance to war-traumatized children and their families.

• Development and support through various coexistence initiatives throughout BiH.

• Building of …

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From Kosovo To Afghanistan, Cluster Bombs Again, Fernando Termentini

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Cluster bombs have created problems in several countries, as they are one of the many unexploded hazards often left behind after a conflict. This article gives an overview of the threat and shows how the organization Intersos has been working to help clear up the problem.

The Albanian Mine Action Programme, Jab Swart

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Albanian government, working in conjunction with various governments and organisations, is slowly working its way towards establishing a stronger national mine action programme and, eventually, a mine-free Albania.

Multicriterial Analysis Application In Mine Action, Damir Gorseta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author proposes how multicriterial analysis should be used to select areas where demining will have the strongest impact on risk reduction, return of displaced persons, and revitalisation of economic and social life.

Azerbaijan Mine Action Program: The Information Leverage, Aziz Aliyev

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The effective and steady working partnership between the Information Department of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) has enabled the development of the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA). The following article outlines the relationship between ANAMA and GICHD and their joint success.

In The Name Of Humanity, Eddie Banks

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A recent study of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) mine action programme concentrated on the effective use of donations from political, financial and productivity perspectives. The premise of the study was that similar tasks, undertaken by a similar work force, with similar training and equipment, in the same time period, should be achieved with comparable timeframes and costs. Results and analysis of the BiH programme from the past several years are discussed below.

Profile: The Canadian Landmine Foundation, Nicole Kreger

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Through projects ranging from advocacy to fundraising to clearance, the Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLF) has made many significant contributions to worldwide mine action efforts. This article highlights some of their recent work, focusing on their achievements in the Balkans.

Use Of Landmines In Azerbaijan And Its Consequences, Hafiz Safikhanov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenian over the last decade featured the widespread use of landmines. While the Journal of Mine Action does not take a position on which nation opened hostilities or first employed landmines against the other, the author of the following article lays out his interpretation of the major events of the conflict as well as the possibility of both countries banning landmines in the near future.

Chechnya: Reconstruction Amidst The War, Kristina Davis

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 2003 the need for mine action assistance in the northern Caucasus remains formidable. By furthering mine awareness, survivor assistance and data collection, organizations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are helping the people of Chechnya do what they can to survive during times of war.

Nato-Sponsored Project Reduces Massive Mine Stockpile Across Eastern Ukraine, Kevin Dansereau

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Ukraine recently destroyed 400,000 landmines in its effort to reduce the millions of landmines stockpiled within its boundaries. The following article discusses the destruction project, which began in 2002 and was sponsored by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as part of the Partnership for Peace Program (PfP) and involved Ukrainians destroying and recycling mines into children’s toys.

Women Deminers In Croatia, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Female deminers are a minority in a region where, at present, Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) is the only organization in which women are working as deminers. Vanja Raznjevic, Silvija Bogdany and Vjekoslava Goricanec are three women who were hired by NPA to work as deminers in Croatia.

A War Far From Over: Iraq’S Landmine Struggle, Nicole Kreger

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With the end of major hostilities, there comes an urgent need for UXO/ mine clearance teams to start tackling their arduous task. A number of countries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have begun to take on this responsibility, hoping to eliminate fear and restore a sense of security to the newly freed Iraqi people.

Mine Awareness In Iraq, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Following the U.S.-led war in Iraq, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are saving lives by doing what they can to raise awareness about the country’s serious landmine/UXO problem.

The U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program In Iraq, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United States government has developed a wide-ranging plan to build an indigenous mine action capability within Iraq. The plan will help rid Iraq of the threat of landmines and UXO so that the country can focus on rebuilding its society.

Victim Assistance In Iraq, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Large amounts of UXO and mines left behind from the continuing conflict in Iraq have resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of victims. This article was written while the coalition forces were still engaged in conventional combat prior to the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Socio-Economic Impact Of Landmines In Iraq, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Years of war and internal conflict have left Iraq littered with landmines, UXO and stockpiled munitions. Mr. Johan Van Der Merwe of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and Colonel Lionel Dyck, MineTech chairman, describe the hazards Iraqis face that threaten normal activity and disrupt socio-economic redevelopment.

Summary Of Mag Achievements In Iraq, March–May 2003, Sean Sutton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article highlights the demining efforts and accomplishments of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Iraq during recent months.

Oil-For-Food Programme In Iraq, Ian Steele

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Oil-for-Food Programme was established in April 1995 as a temporary measure to ease the unintended consequences of UN sanctions on Iraq’s civilian population. The first Iraqi oil sold under the programme to pay for humanitarian supplies was exported in December 1996, and the first shipments of food arrived in March 1997. The Oil-for-Food Programme now covers 24 sectors of need. It has prevented the further degradation of public services and infrastructure and has made a significant difference in the humanitarian situation nationwide.

Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) provides operational assistance to mine action programmes and operators, conducts research, and provides support to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (MBC).