The costs of violent conflict are enormous, not only through the obvious and immediate toll on lives and property but also in the long-term effects on sustainable development. Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) continue to take their toll long after violent conflict has ended.
Landmines and ERW continue to kill and maim approximately 4,000 people a year in just under 80 countries or territories, primarily in Africa, Asia, Central America, the Middle East and the Balkans.
They affect development by making land and other renewable resources unusable for growing food or generating income, and blocking market routes and infrastructure development projects. Landmines and ERW jeopardise efforts to improve health, education and poverty and therefore prevent countries achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
But mine action entails more than removing landmines from the ground. It includes actions ranging from teaching people how to protect themselves from danger in a mine-affected environment to advocating for a mine-free world.
The UK has shown a strong commitment to mitigating the effects of landmines and cluster munitions (a type of explosive weapon which scatters smaller munitions).
The UK has signed and ratified both:
The UK has committed to spend £30 million on mine action in 2010-2013. DFID has re-focussed its efforts and now prioritises de-mining areas which will have a clear and measurable impact on development and human security. DFID’s mine action funding will be increasingly focussed on building countries' own capacities to carry out demining, and maximising the impact of demining on the socio-economic development of targeted populations.
To draw best value from the current and future context of mine action, DFID’s new strategy is underpinned by these four core principles:
- A focus on priority countries where mine action will complement the UK’s other development funding.
- Ensuring a well coordinated global programme for non-emergency situations through competitive tendering for an experienced implementing partner or consortium.
- Requiring implementing organisations to support DFID’s development goals and aid effectiveness principles, including closer integration of mine action in development programmes and progress towards nationally owned strategies and defined end states.
- Monitoring the impact of mine action through "before and after" evaluations of mine-affected communities.