Landmine Woes in Ukraine Skyrocket Under Russian Invasion
In a jarring twist of fate, Ukraine witnessed a staggering tenfold increase in casualties due to landmines and war remnants from explosives in 2022 compared to the previous year. This alarming statistic, as reported by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) in Geneva, swelled to over 600 documented cases. Globally, the number of reported victims plummeted, with 4710 cases in 2022 from the 5544 in 2021. However, the more significant drop was noted in Afghanistan, primarily due to scant data collection, as contended by experts.
Landmines, laid with the intent to halt enemy advancements, have an ominous tendency to haunt for decades afterwards, remaining as live ammunition in the ground. Remarkably, 85% of victims are typically innocent civilians, with children often being the prime target, given their propensity to unknowingly tread upon these hidden dangers while playing or exploring the outdoors.
The Ottawa Treaty's Ambassadors and Villains
The Ottawa Treaty, implemented in 1999 and subscribed to by 164 nations, outlaws the creation, usage, trading, and transfer of antipersonnel landmines. Regrettably, yet not surprisingly, Russia, the United States, and China are among the countries that have avoided committing to this treaty.
According to ICBL's report, Russia has sown these deadly seeds of destruction in eleven Ukrainian regions since the 2022 incursion. However, the report also hints at Ukraine's own involvement in this grisly pursuit, specifically in Isjum, Kharkiv region when it came under Russian control, resulting in at least eleven victims.
A World Still Tangled in Landmines
Syria, surprisingly, topped the list of countries with the highest number of landmine casualties in 2022 with 834. Seventy countries still grapple with landmine contamination, and the ICBL, a network of over 1,000 non-governmental organizations spanning across 100 nations, has been fervently advocating for more demining efforts. The organization, which played an instrumental role in shaping the Ottawa Treaty, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for its commendable work in this area.
Enrichment Insights:
While Ukraine embraces technology to tackle the landmine crisis, harnessing AI-powered drone technology by Safe Pro and partnering with agricultural leader Nibulon Ltd., Russia continues to flout international law and humanitarian principles by deploying landmines in contested regions and violating the Ottawa Treaty. The European Court of Human Rights has also highlighted Russia's transgressions in the realm of free speech and information dissemination. The humanitarian costs related to landmines, with an estimated 139,300 km² of potentially contaminated land in Ukraine alone, are staggering. Regardless of the perpetrators, the urgency for international cooperation and adherence to treaties such as the Ottawa Treaty is palpable to mitigate further suffering.
