Land mines, which are still a global problem today, lead to the deaths of millions of people while leaving many others disabled. It is sometimes the children who are victimized by mines, which were laid for the “security” of the nations during war times, as they step on them while playing.
It is estimated that there are more than 200 million land mines in around 80 countries and more than 300,000 people who were injured or paralyzed in mine explosions.
Fatal accidents take place in more than 80 countries in the world due to land mines. Afghanistan, Cambodia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Angola, Kuwait, Mozambique, West Sahara, South and North Korea, India and Pakistan are the leading countries where mines are laid. Twelve people lose their lives or become disabled due to mine explosions in these countries every day.
Mines are generally laid on the borders with other countries to prevent people from entering the other country through illegal ways. One of the biggest fears of the people fleeing the brutal government crackdown in Syria today is the land mines laid by the Syrian regime on the borders with Turkey and Lebanon.
Land mines, which are the cheapest weapons in the world, can remain active under the ground for about 75 years. The cost of the production of a land mine is $2-3 but the cost of cleaning a land mine changes between $15 and 1000. Around $4,000 is needed for the treatment and rehabilitation expenses of each land mine victim.
April 4th was declared as the International Day for Mine Awareness on the occasion of a campaign launched by the United Nations on 8 December 2005 for the cleaning of land mines. Activities are organized on this day to raise public awareness about land mines.
