Mines, Bombs and Explosives Awareness

"To maim is more effective than to kill." (Mines and booby traps are designed for this purpose)

Statistics:
71 countries have been contaminated with mines since World War Two.
500,000 mines are estimated to be laid every year (this figure is additional to the mines that have already been laid over the years).
60+ million mines are laid world-wide.
4 countries are the most mined areas - Angola, Cambodia, Afghanistan and Iraq
$3 - the approximate cost of a land mine 30 victims are killed or maimed every day.
800 victims are killed every month.
1,200 victims are maimed every month.
75% of victims are children
60% of victims are civilians
50% of victims die within minutes of the blast
50% of victims make it to a hospital
33% of victims lose at least one limb
5% of those who make it to a hospital die in a painful way, usually within 24 hours
12 hours - the time it can take to get to a hospital in some countries
Every 20 minutes - the estimated time for another mine to be activated and claim yet another victim
90% of mine victims in Somalia are civilians

Remember:

• Mines are indiscriminate
• All you do is initiate them
• No one is safe
• No one is immune

The passage of time does not reduce the effectiveness of most mines, indeed the use of modern materials, such as plastics, will probably ensure that mines last longer and function as designed for a greater time span.
All mines have physical characteristics, these are:

• Shape
• Size
• Explosive content
• Fusing system (simple / smart)

The range of mines likely to be found in any conflict or post-conflict situation will have come from a large number of different sources. For example, in Angola there are believed to be 9 - 15 million mines comprising 50 different models from 20 countries. In addition to these there are hand-made and improvised mines that rely on the ingenuity of whoever makes the mine and available materials.