Geneva, Nov. 20, (dpa/GNA) – At least 5,700 casualties of landmines and explosive remnants of war were recorded worldwide last year, a sharp increase of 1,000 compared to the previous year, an international coalition pressing for their abolition said on Wednesday.
At least 1,983 people were killed by landmines in 2023, while many others suffered severe injuries, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and its sister-organization, the Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC) reported.
The report notes that not all landmine-related deaths and injuries are documented, suggesting the actual figures could be higher.
Landmines are laid to stop the advance of enemy forces and explode on contact. They can often remain undetected in the ground for decades, and last year 84% of all victims were children and other civilians who later accidentally step on them.
The military regime in Myanmar is reportedly deploying landmines at unprecedented levels. Russia, Iran, and North Korea have also been accused of laying new mines, continuing trends observed in previous years.
These countries have not signed the Ottawa Treaty, the international agreement that prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines.
The treaty has banned landmines since 1999, and 164 countries are parties to it. Major powers including the United States, Israel and Russia are not parties to the treaty.
Non-state actors, including armed groups, have also been implicated in the use of landmines in conflict zones such as the Gaza Strip, Colombia, India, Myanmar and parts of Africa’s Sahel region, including Burkina Faso and Mali, according to the report.
The report also stated that landmines continue to be produced or procured in 12 countries, including China, Cuba, Singapore and Vietnam.
The campaign, a global network of over 1,000 organizations, advocates for the complete eradication of landmines.
GNA