To the Editor,

In his September 2007 report to constituents, MP Vic Toews provides a number of statistics measuring progress in Afghanistan including an incorrect statistic on antipersonnel (AP) mine clearance. The Manitoba Campaign to Ban Landmines (MBCBL) notified Mr. Toews about the error and we were grateful for the mostly accurate correction printed in Mr. Toews’ January 2008 report to constituents. However, further clarification of the statistic and the correction is needed.

The September 2007 constituency report noted incorrectly that: “Results in Afghanistan since taking office: 65,000 landmines have been destroyed leaving millions of squared meters of land cleared for agriculture and housing”. That statistic referred to stockpiled AP mines destroyed between 2002, when Afghanistan joined the Mine Ban Treaty, and early 2006, when the current Canadian government came to power. The majority of those mines, over 58,000, were destroyed between April 2003 and December 2005. Stockpiled mines are not in the ground so their destruction had little, if any, impact on clearing land for agriculture and housing. Their destruction does, however, prevent them from being used in the future. As a signatory to the Mine Ban Treaty, Afghanistan is required to destroy its stockpiled AP mines and it has been successful. An additional 460,000 stockpiled AP mines were reported destroyed in 2006 and, in late 2007, Afghanistan reported that it had completed its destruction of known stockpiles.

Mine action activities in Afghanistan are coordinated by the United Nations Mine Action Center for Afghanistan (UNMACA), and funding for mine action comes from dozens of government and non-government sources. The Landmine Monitor Report 2007, produced annually by the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate International Campaign to Ban Landmines, reported that in 2006 nearly 133 square kilometres of land contaminated by over 13,000 AP mines (26 square kilometres) and over 800,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance (107 square kilometres) were cleared. It is estimated, however, that there could still be as much as 778 square kilometres of contaminated land throughout Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has had considerable success dealing with its landmine problem but the news is not all positive. Available statistics show that demining activities slowed in 2006 as a result of decreased international funding and deteriorating security. Casualties in Afghanistan from landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) like cluster munitions resulted in more than 840 new casualties in 2005 and nearly 800 in 2006. Despite increased mine clearance, the casualty rate has remained relatively constant with children comprising nearly half of the victims. It is estimated that Afghanistan could have as many as 60,000 landmine/ERW survivors who will require long-term medical and rehabilitation support.

Canada’s recent announcement that it will provide $80 million over four years to fund mine action activities in Afghanistan is important but more should be done there and in the dozens of other mine-affected countries around the world. The MBCBL, which is a member of the Cluster Munition Coalition, also urges the Canadian government to take a more active lead role in the new global movement to end the suffering caused by cluster munitions. The use of cluster munitions and the indiscriminate effect they have on civilian populations must be stopped now before they create an even greater humanitarian crisis.

Darryl R. Toews
MBCBL Coordinator
Morden, MB

From the United Nations Mine Action Centre

United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan UNMACA Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan

Fact Sheet

The Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan (MAPA) is the largest programme of its kind in the world. The MAPA is implemented by partner organizations, most of which are Afghan or international non-governmental organizations, and is coordinated by the United Nations Mine Action Center for Afghanistan (UNMACA). Oversight from the Government of Afghanistan is provided through the Mine Action Consultative Working Group, which is chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Work is underway to transfer the coordination of the MAPA from UNMACA to the Government of Afghanistan.

Ottawa Treaty: Afghanistan joined the International Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty (also known as the Ottawa Treaty) on 1 March 2003, becoming its 126th member. The Treaty obligates Afghanistan to clear all of its minefields by 2013 at the latest, to destroy all stockpiled anti-personnel mines in Afghanistan by March 2007, to provide mine risk education to the Afghan people and to assist those who have been injured by mines.

Victims: Almost 60 Afghans fall victim to mines or unexploded ordnance (UXO) each month, down from an estimated 150 to 300 per month in 2002 after MAPA’s clearance and mine risk education efforts, but still far too high. Half of all recent victims are caused by UXO as some tamper with deadly UXO to sell the metal for profit. Seventeen percent of Afghanistan’s mine victims are children between the ages of 5 and 14, the highest rate for this age group in any country which has conducted a nationwide impact survey.

Current Contamination: Some 2,370 Afghan communities are impacted by more than 700 million square meters of suspected hazardous areas. As many as 4.2 million Afghans live in these communities, which are spread across 32 of 34 Afghan provinces. The contamination not only kills and maims, it also hurts livelihoods as reconstruction and rural development projects are impeded by mines and UXO.

Recent Clearance: The MAPA cleared 138 million square meters in 2005 and almost 17 million square metres in the first quarter of 2006. During this clearance, the following devices were destroyed: more than 38,590 anti-personnel mines (APM), 1,410 anti-tank mines (ATM) and more than two million items of UXO.

Historical Clearance: Since 1990, the MAPA has cleared more than one billion square meters of contaminated land. Devices destroyed since 1990: more than 332,000 APM, more than 18,730 ATM and more than seven million pieces of UXO.

Stockpile Destruction: Since joining the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, Afghanistan has destroyed 65,973 stockpiled APM.

Mine Risk Education: Since 1990, more than 16 million Afghans have received some form of mine risk education. The MAPA uses various techniques to help communities cope with the mine and UXO risk they face. These include: teams and community volunteers who run risk education sessions in communities and for refugees, internally displaced persons and nomads; mass media campaigns; and training teachers to provide risk education to their students.

Workforce: The MAPA partner organizations employ some 10,000 Afghans across the country.

Updated 21 June 2006