What's happened
Landmine and unexploded ordnance casualties surged in 2024, with children most affected. Funding shortages threaten demining efforts in Afghanistan, Sudan, and Nigeria, risking increased civilian harm. Experts warn that without urgent support, contamination will grow, prolonging humanitarian crises.
What's behind the headline?
The worsening landmine crisis exposes the fragility of international disarmament efforts.
- Despite progress, the 2025 Landmine Monitor reports a record number of casualties, especially among children, indicating that current clearance efforts are insufficient.
- Funding dependence on a few major donors, notably the US, has created vulnerabilities, with recent sector-wide freezes stalling programs in key countries.
- The withdrawal of European states from the Mine Ban Treaty underlines geopolitical tensions and security concerns, risking the treaty’s integrity.
- The resurgence of mine use in Ukraine and Myanmar suggests that armed conflicts are increasingly deploying mines as a strategic tool, complicating clearance.
- The situation in Sudan and Nigeria demonstrates how ongoing conflicts and displacement exacerbate contamination, with civilian populations at heightened risk.
Forecasting forward, unless international funding and political will increase, the global goal of a mine-free world by 2030 will remain out of reach. The risk of contamination expanding in conflict zones will likely lead to more casualties, prolonging humanitarian crises and straining aid resources. The international community must prioritize sustained funding and adherence to disarmament treaties to mitigate this growing threat.
What the papers say
The Landmine Monitor 2025 report, published by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), provides comprehensive data on casualties, mine use, and clearance efforts. All Africa reports on the urgent funding shortages affecting Afghanistan, Sudan, and Nigeria, emphasizing the risk of program suspension and increased civilian harm. Reuters highlights the record surge in incidents in 2024, driven by conflicts in Syria and Myanmar, and discusses the geopolitical implications of European states seeking to withdraw from the Mine Ban Treaty amid security concerns. These sources collectively underscore the complex, multi-layered challenge of landmine contamination and the urgent need for renewed international cooperation.
How we got here
Recent reports highlight a rise in landmine casualties globally, driven by ongoing conflicts in Syria, Myanmar, Ukraine, and other regions. Despite international treaties like the Mine Ban Treaty, new mine use and contamination persist, especially in conflict zones where military activity and instability hinder clearance efforts. Funding cuts and geopolitical tensions have hampered demining programs, leaving millions at risk.
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