Recent rise in landmine casualty rates is a ‘disturbing trend’  

Nearly 6,900 people were killed or injured by landmines last year, with improvised mines responsible for over half of all victims - a record - it was reported on Thursday.  In 2018, 6,897 people were victims of mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), according to the Landmine Monitor 2019, which was published in Geneva on Thursday. This is nearly double the number recorded in 2013 (3,457).  Armed conflict and violence in Afghanistan, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Syria and Ukraine were responsible for many of the mine victims.  For the third consecutive year, improvised mines were responsible for large numbers of casualties (3,789). The majority of recorded landmine/ERW casualties during the 2018–2019 reporting period were civilians (71%). Children accounted for 54% of all civilian casualties.  The report’s authors said an upswing in casualty rates since 2015 marked “a disturbing trend”.  The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force 20 years ago. Today there are 164 states party to the ...