Research on Demining

Landmines are used in several ways:

Defending Socioeconomic Targets: The most frequent use of land mines is to protect economic and social targets likes bridges, gas pipelines, railroad stations, etc from attacks by the enemies.

Defending Military Positions: Military use land mines to provide protection for their forces and positions.

Channeling Movement: Land mines are often used to prevent people and vehicles from moving through certain areas, and to control their routes.

Causing Terror and Economic Dislocation: Land mines have served as military weapons but also political weapons. By laying mines in agricultural fields, irrigation systems and villages, they can drive civilians out of rural areas and into large cities, adding to the social and economic burdens of those in control of the cities. 

Landmines do not only injure and kill; they also create long-term costs to the community. Some of the worst affected areas are Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Iraq and Laos.

Medical Costs: Blood transfusions, surgical time and skill, painkillers, antibiotics, artificial limbs, and rehabilitation are all necessary for the victim. They all cost money, which impoverishing the community.

Employment: If the victim is the main source of income, whole families are affected economically.

Loss of Land: Access to agriculture, grazing, and trading lands between communities is strictly limited. 35% of land in Afghanistan and Cambodia is now unusable.

Mine removal and demining is a long and expensive business. Weapons that cost as little as $3 each to manufacture can cost up to $1,000 to remove. Land mines can be carelessly spread at rates of over 1,000 per minute, but it takes a skilled expert an entire day just to clear by hand 20-50 square meters of mine-contaminated land.