The United States Commitment to Humanitarian Demining
Prepared by the Office of Humanitarian Demining Programs,
Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State,
Washington, DC, July 2000
|
|
To Walk the Earth in Safety: The United States Commitment to Humanitarian Demining Prepared by the Office of Humanitarian Demining Programs, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, July 2000 |
|
AFRICA
The Landmine Problem More than three decades of persistent internal conflict left Angola with one of the world's most serious landmine problems. While UN estimates indicate that 10 to 15 million landmines infest Angola, the actual number is likely to approximate 6 million. Six to eight heavily mined provinces cover nearly 50 percent of the country in a band from the northwest border with the Congo to the southeast border with Namibia. Minefields were planted to destroy or deny access to infrastructure; they are concentrated around roads, railways, bridges, and public facilities such as schools, churches, water supply points, and health care facilities. United States Assistance Since FY95, the United States has contributed more than $25 million to demining operations in Angola, an Emergency Demining Initiative country. The Angolan Government established the National Institute for the Removal of Explosive Obstacles, and U.S. demining assistance supports the UN Demining Program in Angola. U.S. funding augments that of other nations and NGOs to continue demining efforts, such as training and equipping more than 800 deminers, medical technicians, and supervisors, and the purchase of mine detectors, vehicles, and safety and communications equipment. Excess equipment was also provided through the U.S. Military Humanitarian Assistance Program. The United States is to provide additional demining equipment to the UN that will be used to support operations of several NGOs. Assisted by USAID, various NGOs recently conducted mine awareness and mine clearance programs. In Angola, 1 in every 334 inhabitants is an amputee, and the United States has funded programs to assist these victims. USAID contributed $1 million to support the International Committee of the Red Cross Prosthetic Production and Fitting Operation, and more than $3 million to the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) to establish a regional rehabilitation center. Since 1996, USAID's Leahy WVF has supported VVAF to meet the physical, social, and economic needs of mine victims and other amputees in Luena City, Moxico Province. Thus far, several hundred Angolans have received prostheses and gait training from the Center. In FY00, the United States will provide Angola, through grants to NGOs, $3.096 million for mine action activities. The NGO Hazardous Awareness Life Support Organization (HALO) Trust will receive some of this assistance to fund the addition of two mine clearance teams and two survey/explosive ordnance demolition (EOD)/mine awareness teams in Beguela, Huambo, and Bie provinces. The four teams will also support international agencies and NGOs in providing humanitarian relief to IDPs in Angola's central highlands--a high-priority area for government and international community resettlement programs. Grants will also go for mine clearance to the NGOs Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) and Menschen Gegen Minen (MgM). USAID funding to the VVAF will assist the Foundation to make progress in addressing the needs of amputees through the establishment of a rehabilitation center in Eastern Angola. With U.S. and international support, Angola continues to make progress in eliminating landmines as a major hindrance to the implementation of humanitarian aid programs, economic reconstruction, and internal movement and resettlement in those areas of the country that are relatively free from conflict. The Landmine Problem During the occupation of the Aozou Strip in the 1980s, Libya deployed landmines covering 45,000 square miles (one-tenth of Chad's total land area). Estimates of the number of landmines vary from a low of 50,000 to a high of 1 million. Landmines are generally located in the desert and mountain areas in the north along the border with Niger. United States Assistance The United States played a key role in launching the Chad demining program, which began in January 1998. In FY00, the United States expects to contribute more than $1.7 million to Chad's demining program, bringing the total level of U.S. financial support to more than $5.4 million in two years. Since the start of U.S. funding, a national MAC has been established and historical data pertaining to minefield locations has been collected. U.S. military personnel had previously trained a cadre of approximately 65 Chadian engineering personnel and provided demining equipment. In February 1999, U.S. military instructors graduated another cadre of 40 deminers. At the government's request, the United States funded the renovation of the national demining office (NDO) building. The U.S. military also expects to train another 65 Chadian engineering personnel. In February 2000, 29 U.S.-trained Chadian deminers began a Canadian-funded Level I Survey to determine the extent of Chad's landmine problem. Until renewed fighting forced the United States to review the program, Chad had been expected to begin mine clearance operations in 2000 with continued U.S. support. The U.S. program review stopped funding for the construction of a regional demining compound in Faya Largeau, but not the provision of demining equipment, and funds for an air transport/medevac capability, trauma kits, ambulances, and communications equipment. Nor did the review prevent the Government of Chad from taking possession of seven vehicles donated by the United States to the Chadian demining program. Because Canada suspended its assistance, the Level I Survey will not be completed by the end of the year 2000. Once fighting ceases, the United States will reassess its earlier decision to continue to work with the Government of Chad so that it will be able to demine the northern provinces and benefit from economic and social development in those regions. The Landmine Problem Djibouti has a small landmine problem stemming from the 1991-94 civil conflict between the FRUD (Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy) and the government of Djibouti. Despite Djibouti's small landmine problem, there have been several recent landmine incidents. Figures provided by the Djiboutian military indicate that 11 civilian injuries and 17 fatalities occurred in 1999. Djibouti's northern plateau was the most heavily contested area during the civil war, and contains most of the suspected minefields or mined routes. The exact number of landmines is unknown. While mine contamination is not extensive, landmines have been used in the northern districts, particularly in the districts of Obock and Tadjoura. In the town of Obock, the Djibouti army laid mines to protect the army camp and key installations, and FRUD forces are said to have countermined these areas and access roads out of Obock and near the village of Andoli. The southern district of Dikhil may contain landmines, as does a section of road leading south from the town of Ali Sabieh to the Somali/Ethiopian/Djiboutian border. United States Assistance The United States will provide $300,000 in humanitarian demining assistance for FY00 to support the establishment of a small humanitarian demining program. The new program will include training, equipment, and refurbishment, if required, of facilities for demining training. Additional U.S. support is expected in future fiscal years. The Landmine Problem Thirty years of civil war left Eritrea with a severe landmine problem. Even before the outbreak of hostilities with Ethiopia in May 2000, an estimated 500,000 to 1 million landmines and 3 million UXO were scattered throughout the country. Significant mine infestation is suspected in the northwestern provinces and in one southeastern province. Landmines were used to defend strongholds around cities and populated areas, military camps, and roadways. Landmines are also found in rural farmlands, near water sources, and along borders. United States Assistance U.S. humanitarian demining assistance began in FY94, and the six-year funding total will exceed $10 million by the end of this fiscal year for this Emergency Demining Initiative country. The United States funds nearly 100 percent of the Eritrean demining program. In 1996, the U.S. military paid for the transportation of 60 trucks from Germany to be used in demining activities, and trained 120 deminers; in the next two years, 122 more deminers were trained. In 1997, U.S. military personnel advised and assisted Eritrean staff personnel in conducting mine awareness and historical research. Funds in 1998 provided for additional mine clearance, mine awareness, and further development of a mine information database. The United States also funded contracts to construct facilities for the national demining headquarters in Keren and to renovate two regional headquarters. The United States is also assessing the implementation of a mine-detection dog program. U.S.-supported deminers successfully destroyed or removed 1,534 landmines and cleared 4.13 km2 of vital farmland and 87 kilometers of roads. Using mass media and sign postings, the mine awareness program informs Eritreans of the dangers of landmines and UXO. Demining efforts thus far have been successful and are a vital link to the country's continued economic growth. In FY00, the United States allocated more than $2.3 million to rebuild Eritrea's humanitarian demining operations. This allocation includes funds designated for mine awareness measures designed to promote the safe return of refugees, training for Eritrean personnel, and equipment. Regrettably, however, U.S. demining assistance to Eritrea is suspended due to current hostilities with Ethiopia. The Landmine Problem Decades of internal and external conflict left an estimated 500,000 landmines behind in Ethiopia. This estimate does not include mines that may have been laid during the current conflict with Eritrea that began in May 2000. While landmines have been uncovered throughout the country, the heaviest landmine concentrations are in the Tigray region in the north and in the Ogaden region in the east along the Somali border. Landmines in these regions have caused some 5-10 casualties per week. United States Assistance The United States has funded demining activities in Ethiopia since FY93 to this Emergency Demining Initiative country. To date, more than $11 million have been contributed. U.S. assistance is designed to aid Ethiopia's efforts to become mine-safe. Since assistance began in 1993, the United States helped establish an NDO, provided demining training and equipment, as well as assisted with mine awareness training. U.S. funding additionally allowed Ethiopia to increase its data collection capability and conduct staff management training. As a result of train-the- trainer programs conducted by the U.S. military, the Ethiopian military has trained two of its three planned demining companies (90 deminers per company). These deminers cleared 20,000 landmines and UXO using U.S.-provided equipment. Today, more than 170 villages have been cleared and resettled, and 8,403 hectares (20,764 acres) of land have been cleared and returned to use. The United States plans to fund construction of new demining company buildings at the Kebre Dehar Military Camp in southeastern Ethiopia. While demining operations have reduced the casualty rate by more than 50 percent, landmines continue to threaten civilians. Since 1996, USAID has been funding the Prosthetic Orthotic Training Center in Addis Ababa, and the Center has provided training in the manufacture and use of prosthetic components to more than 108 technicians from 28 countries, and produced more than 5,670 prosthetic components. The U.S.-supported Ethiopian Demining Program is approaching the sustainment phase. The program's effect on society is profound; it is responsible for saving countless civilian lives as well as reducing the number of mine-related injuries. Demining efforts have also reduced injuries to livestock and have returned the land to productive use. In FY00, the United States allocated more than $2.3 million to rebuild Ethiopia's humanitarian demining operations. This allocation includes funds designated for mine awareness measures to promote the safe return of refugees. Regrettably, however, U.S. demining assistance to Ethiopia is on hold until current hostilities with Eritrea cease. The Landmine Problem Thousands of landmines have been sown in Guinea-Bissau, some dating from the war for independence, but most were emplaced by belligerents during the 1998- 99 military mutiny. A significant number of mines can also be attributed to Senegalese forces. The minefields include populous areas in Bissau and its environs. In addition, UXO is scattered throughout populated and agricultural areas. The mines and UXO represent a persistent danger to the civilian population and a damper on the resumption of normal commercial activity. United States Assistance The United States is considering providing Guinea-Bissau with $365,000 in humanitarian demining assistance in FY00. The funds would provide training, equipment, and supervision to clear landmines and UXO found in urban areas of Bissau, the capital. The Landmine Problem An estimated 10,000 landmines remain in Mauritania from the war in neighboring Western Sahara. The landmines were used to establish defensive positions against Polisario attacks on the Cap Blanc Peninsula, at Bîr Mogreïn and Aïn BinTili in the north, and surrounding Zouirat. Although mine casualties are not extensive, Mauritanian military personnel and civilians have suffered landmine injuries. United States Assistance After a U.S. Policy Assessment Team visit in late 1998, Mauritania was recommended for inclusion in the U.S. humanitarian demining program. Initial funding in FY99 supported two separate survey initiatives designed to facilitate the development of a country program. In FY00, the United States allocated $2.2 million to support demining operations in Mauritania. As part of this support, U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) were deployed to Mauritania in January 2000 to conduct two months of humanitarian demining training. They trained 55 Mauritanian military personnel in modern demining techniques, including mine awareness and basic medical care. During a second phase to take place in the summer of 2000, the trained Mauritanians will provide training to a second corps of Mauritanians under SOF supervision. By March 2000, SOF had also constructed a building for a demining school and an NDO and had undertaken a mine awareness campaign,all with the objective of creating an indigenous demining capability for Mauritania. Additional U.S. support will provide vehicles and equipment to support demining operations as well as funding to support the construction of a humanitarian demining training facility north of Nouakchott. In just two years of U.S. support, the efforts of Mauritanian deminers resulted in the destruction of more than 7,000 landmines and 5,000 pieces of UXO. Continued U.S. assistance will reduce human suffering and boost economic development in important areas in the northern sectors of the country. The United States intends to work with Mauritania to develop an indigenous demining capacity. The Landmine Problem Two decades of war left Mozambique littered with more than 1 million landmines. While minefields infect all provinces, the most heavily mined regions are along the Zimbabwean border, in Zambezia, in Tete province, and in Maputo and Inhambane Provinces. Landmines continue to injure people and inhibit refugee resettlement and economic development. United States Assistance Mozambique has been receiving U.S. humanitarian demining assistance since FY93. Total U.S. contributions are expected to be just over $24 million by the end of this fiscal year. In a partnership with Japan, the United States contributed $1 million to the Massingir Dam demining project, a vital key to the country's overall development strategy. The dam is capable of supplying electricity to the area and irrigating 9,000 hectares (22,239 acres) of land. The United States has supported various NGO demining projects that have removed more than 15,000 landmines and 13,000 UXO. Since 1993, USAID's Demobilization/Reintegration Project has contributed $4 million to support clearance operations. This program cleared 2,400 kilometers of roads, facilitating post-war resettlement of agricultural land. Since 1995, USAID's Leahy WVF has funded the Prosthetic and Orthotic Worldwide Education and Relief (POWER), an NGO; the project assists the Government in producing and maintaining prosthetic devices. Thus far, more than 7,000 amputees (70 percent of the amputee population) have been fitted with prostheses manufactured in the POWER workshop in Maputo. In 1999, the DoD completed its train-the-trainer program in Mozambique, but continues to fund its mine awareness program. Also in 1999, $1.9 million in assistance provided by the Department of State enabled Mozambique to increase its mine-detection dog capacity. The funds also enabled Mozambique to purchase trucks and demining equipment, including metal detectors, protective body gear, and terrain-clearing tools. The natural disasters that struck Mozambique during the winter of 1999 changed the country's humanitarian demining priorities for the use of its $3.9 million FY00 NADR funds. Heavy flooding displaced some landmines, and at the request of the Mozambique IND, the U.S. Department of State is providing additional funding for a U.S. contractor to conduct high priority demining under IND direction. USAID's FY00 funding is for its Prosthetics Assistance Project, managed by POWER. The Project's goal is to strengthen Mozambican management capabilities, improve outreach, and support private sector opportunities to assume production and distribution of prosthetic devices. The Landmine Problem Namibia's internal struggle for independence and neighboring conflicts left an estimated 50,000 landmines and thousands of UXO in the ground. Clearance efforts are nearly complete in 11 known minefields in northern Namibia. Remaining landmines are found in berms around electric pylons that run from the northern town of Ruacana, near the Angolan border, 120 kilometers south to the western part of the Estosha National Park. A 900m2 area around each pylon was mined with 24 to 48 landmines and four to six antitank (AT) mines. The UXO problem exists throughout the northern area where most of the fighting took place. United States Assistance Namibia has received U.S. humanitarian demining assistance since FY94. Expected contributions to demining operations this fiscal year will bring total assistance to more than $8 million. The United States funded a multiphase demining training program, including clearance, mine awareness, medical assistance, communications, and the purchase of equipment. The training of the Namibian Defense Force and Police is complete, and, as a result, Namibia now possesses a modern demining capability and a dedicated unit of deminers. In January 1998, the United States provided a prototype machine, the Berm processor, to extract landmines in the berms around electric pylons. Transportation problems in this rugged terrain, however, hampered UXO disposal efforts in the northern regions. Nevertheless, the United States provided funding for the purchase of vehicles to access the rugged terrain for clearance operations. In FY00, Namibia will receive more than $300,000 in U.S. humanitarian demining assistance. The funds will provide technical expertise through a U.S. contractor to the Namibian Defense Force to continue clearing the remaining berms surrounding electric power pylons in northern Namibia. With the completion of the U.S. Department of Defense's train-the-trainer program in April 2000, Namibia continued its progress towards becoming a mine-safe country. However, this is a distinction in some jeopardy, given recent reports of cross-border minelaying by Angolan rebel forces from UNITA. Overall, the establishment of Namibia's demining program is complete. Nine minefields are cleared, and mine-detecting dogs will complete quality assurance of seven of the fields this year. (Two former minefields, now cleared, already have infrastructure built on them and will not require proofing.) Although Namibia has achieved the sustainment phase in its humanitarian demining program, the Department of State will continue to provide NADR funding for mine action activities, as appropriate. The Landmine Problem Rwanda emerged from civil war with 100,000-250,000 landmines in the ground. The landmines are located along the established Rwandan cease-fire border with the People's Front, an area approximately 120 kilometers long and at a distance of about 10 kilometers inside Rwanda along the border with Uganda. An additional 1,200 km2 of suspected mine contamination is south of this area. The heaviest concentrations of landmines are located in the rural farmlands and tea plantations northeast of Kigali. United States Assistance Rwanda has been receiving U.S. humanitarian demining assistance since FY95. U.S. funding reached $1.8 million during FY99, and total U.S. contributions could surpass $14 million by the end of FY00. These funds were used to renovate the demining training center, the NDO, and mine awareness facilities in Rebero, and to purchase equipment to support demining operations. In just five years, U.S. assistance has enabled Rwanda to make substantial progress towards becoming mine-safe. From July to August 1995, U.S. military personnel established an NDO in Kigali and trained 120 Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) personnel. In 1995, USAID contracted with RONCO to conduct demining activities in Rwanda. Under this contract, RONCO supported the NDO and established a demining dog training program. U.S. military personnel conducted refresher demining training for 73 RPA personnel in September-October 1996; this training focused on mine clearance, minefield survey techniques, mine marking, land navigation, and medical training. The team also assisted the integration of the RONCO-trained dogs into Rwandan demining operations. The NDO staff received additional training in mine awareness and in assessing the effectiveness of earlier demining training. From March to May 1997, a U.S. team established a computer training program at the NDO, revitalized the NDO's data collection center, and conducted mine awareness training. Another U.S. military team, including EOD specialists, trained 93 RPA deminers and EOD personnel. In FY99, funding was allocated for the renovation of the NDO facility and additional EOD training. A quality assurance program is underway to help Rwanda attain UN mine clearance standards. U.S. demining assistance has had a dramatic impact on Rwandan society: in the last five years, the NDO has cleared 16,302 mines and UXO, resettled 400,000 refugees, and reduced UXO and landmine casualties from 233 in 1994 to nine in 1999 as a result of demining and mine awareness operations. The RPA also built housing for returning refugees on cleared land. A recent report cited the success of the program, pointing out that more than 7 million km2 have been cleared, including 600 kilometers of bush roads. In addition, 200,000 IDPs returned to their villages and homes. Success continues for the humanitarian demining program in Rwanda in that the recent expansion of survey teams into the Northwest has resulted in the identification of eight new minefields. The humanitarian demining program in Rwanda is now in the sustainment phase--the mark of success for U.S. demining programs. The United States remains committed to Rwanda becoming mine-safe and continues to support its demining activities.
Somalia
The Landmine Problem Northwest Somalia has a severe landmine and UXO problem stemming from several conflicts. Landmines were used extensively in each conflict, resulting in large amounts of UXO and landmines along the border between Northwest Somalia and Ethiopia, on the perimeters of military installations, on important access routes, and in urban areas. United States Assistance The United States has provided humanitarian demining assistance through the HALO Trust Fund and CARE. Since 1998, the United States has provided more than $2.5 million in demining assistance to Northwest Somalia, under the U.S. Emergency Demining Initiative. Last year, the Department of State provided more than $1 million in NADR funding for a HALO Trust project to clear landmines in Northwest Somalia and to allow refugees to return home to Burao City. In FY00, the United States will provide $1.4 million to continue demining operations. According to HALO Trust progress reports for the months of January-March 2000, HALO Trust extracted 580 APL and 35 AT landmines, verified 42 mined/UXO sites, and cleared 11,389 m2 of land. The Landmine Problem Swaziland has one minefield along its border with Mozambique. The minefield is just east of the Lomahasma Customs point in the extreme northeastern corner of the country, and is approximately 10 kilometers long with widths ranging from 50 to 100 kilometers. The number of landmines in this area is unknown. United States Assistance U.S. funding for demining operations began in FY98, and total assistance is expected to reach more than $1 million by the end of this fiscal year. Because of the size and location of the minefield, the United States has focused its funding on training Swaziland Defense Force personnel; the funding provides demining equipment and equipment operator training. In the summer of 1999, U.S. SOF conducted phase one of their train-the-trainer program for Swazi military personnel. On April 1, 2000, SOF trainers returned to Swaziland to conduct phase two of the training program, with the goal of creating an indigenous Swazi capability to conduct humanitarian demining operations. The United States is not providing FY00 humanitarian demining assistance to Swaziland, because the country has $289,000 in FY98 funds on account in a Trust Fund with DoD's DSCA. The funds will enable the Swazis to begin initial demining operations in the Lomasha area along the border with Mozambique. The United States believes Swaziland's experience in clearing its minefield will enable it to contribute to possible future peacekeeping operations. The Landmine Problem The War of Liberation, which ended in 1980, left 210 km2 of minefields stretching across 700 kilometers of the borders with Zambia and Mozambique. The number of landmines is unknown, and estimates vary widely from 200,000 to 2.2 million. Minefield records were not adequately prepared or maintained, and many landmines are located in rough terrain in remote regions of the country that are difficult to survey. United States Assistance Zimbabwe began receiving humanitarian demining assistance in FY98. Because the program is in an early stage, U.S. funding focuses on providing extensive training to improve the ability of Zimbabweans to conduct demining operations. An NDO is now in place, and training in staff management and organizational structure is complete. The NDO established a mine awareness unit responsible for training in target audience analysis and mine awareness information campaign design. U.S. military personnel trained approximately 50 defense force engineers in basic demining techniques, medical orderly skills, minefield survey, and equipment maintenance.
In FY99, $1,743,000 in U.S. humanitarian demining assistance purchased equipment, vehicles, and supplies for a second demining platoon. During 2000, the Department of Defense will complete its train-the-trainer program, and a third fully qualified and dedicated demining platoon will begin operations. The United States will provide an additional $1.9 million in humanitarian demining assistance to Zimbabwe in FY00. These funds will enable the Government of Zimbabwe to purchase necessary equipment and mine awareness materials to reach the sustainment phase in demining operations and reduce the landmine casualty rate of its citizens. By April 2000, Zimbabwean Army combat engineers had cleared more than 800,000 m2 of land that has been turned over to the local town council at Victoria Falls. The United States will continue to support Zimbabwe's efforts to clear its mined areas so that the country can benefit from the estimated hundreds of millions of dollars that can be earned annually through full use of these areas.
Table of Contents |