Preparing for Humanitarian Demining in Post-conflict Colombia

Authors

Carl Case, Organization of American States (OAS)Follow

Abstract

Nearly a decade after launching an effort to build national capacity to clear landmines from its territory, the Colombian government still faces significant challenges in addressing the country’s mine problem, which has claimed more than 11,000 victims since 1991.¹ Although the overall number of new landmine victims significantly decreased over the past eight years, survey and clearance work has been limited to more secure zones of the countryside because of the threat from nonstate armed groups to deminers and people living in conflict areas. Meanwhile, the risk to civilians living in parts of the country where demining activities have not taken place has not changed significantly, and Colombia remains among the countries with the highest number of mine casualties each year.