Today we mark International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
Almost 30 years ago, the world swore to banish the scourge of anti-personnel mines by signing the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention – a life-saving, resounding success.
Yet, some states are now calling to bring them back, undoing decades of global efforts to protect civilians.Have we learned nothing from decades of maimed children, shattered communities, and war-torn landscapes riddled with deadly traps?
This backsliding is not just a legal debate, it isn’t just a military concern: it is a humanitarian crisis in the making. All countries must strengthen, not weaken, the rules that keep civilians safe in conflicts.
We uncover what is at stake in this special issue of the ICRC newsletter.
Do international treaties banning weapons matter? Where would we be without them?
As globally agreed limits on wars are questioned, this video imagines the world without the global Convention banning anti-personnel landmines. | Watch
No safe ground: War’s deadly legacy comes to haunt Myanmar amid earthquake relief efforts
ICRC and Myanmar Red Cross volunteers have mobilized rapidly to help people who have lost access to health care, clean water, and even the ability to contact their loved ones. IFRC
It has been a week since a catastrophic earthquake tore through Myanmar, leaving a trail of devastation and unbearable suffering. But what the media doesn’t show is the hidden danger lurking beyond the rubble – unexploded ordnances lying in wait for desperate survivors fleeing collapsing buildings and relentless aftershocks.
Myanmar, which has not yet joined the Mine Ban Treaty, is one of the deadliest places for landmine casualties, recording the highest number of victims in 2023. The facts speak for themselves: over 80% of victims are civilians.
Now, as displaced families escape the ruins, they are unknowingly stepping into vast, unmarked minefields left behind by decades of armed conflict.
These survivors, already reeling from the destruction, now face a cruel and silent threat that could claim even more lives. This is an unfolding tragedy.
Buried threats, shattered lives: The never-ending horror of landmines
Abdulrahman (left) was just six when he stepped on a landmine while playing outside near his home. He lost part of his leg. With no specialized medical facilities nearby, traveling to Sana’a, in Yemen, for rehabilitation services is vital but costly. ICRC
For Abdulrahman, one moment of childhood play turned into a lifetime of hardship.
For Zahida, curiosity led to tragedy.
For Rabea, a single misstep stole her husband and child.
For Omar, one shattering instance took away his livelihood.
Landmines do not belong in our world, yet millions remain buried, waiting to destroy lives. This is not just a humanitarian crisis – it is a moral one. We cannot turn back time for landmine victims, but we can fight for a future without them.
Broken Chair, the monumental wooden sculpture by Swiss artist Daniel Berset, symbolises opposition to landmines and cluster bombs, and acts as a reminder to politicians and diplomats visiting Geneva. ICRC
Landmines: A quick fix with a devastating hangover. They're sold as battlefield advantages, but the truth is far more brutal. These victim-activated weapons, tragically, often end up maiming and killing the very people they're supposed to protect. Sure, they might seem like a short-term solution, but the long-term consequences – for communities, for entire generations – are catastrophic.
The ICRC is clear: There are no exceptions. We must uphold international law and eradicate these weapons of indiscriminate suffering.
Picking up the pieces: A deminer's fight to rebuild Syria, one step at a time
Noora Murad in protective gear walks through a marked minefield in Iraq, carrying a metal detector to clear explosives and save lives. Mike KHALAF/ICRC
“Every time I leave for work, my daughter cries.
It is not easy, but I have no choice."
Noora Murad is a deminer from Sinjar, Iraq. Determined to make a difference, she has chosen a career path once dominated by men, stepping into the hazardous yet life-saving work of landmine clearance.
