he international community must “immediately address the devastating humanitarian effects of cluster bombs that indiscriminately kill and mutilate civilians, just as easily and frequently as landmines”, said United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in his message in occasion of the International Mine Awareness Day and Assistance in Mine Action.
In face of the international outrage at the use of these weapons – as for example last summer by Israel in the conflict against the Hezbollah in Lebanon – “a large number of nations is seeking an international accord to reinforce efforts in this direction”.
Ban Ki-Moon adds that this Day must serve as a reminder that “millions of people in nearly 80 nations still live in fear of mines and unexploded ordnances from previous wars, that each year kill 15,000 people, causing intolerable mutilations and destroying the lives of families”.
The International community must immediately address the devastating humanitarian effects of cluster bombs that indiscriminately kill and mutilate civilians, just as easily and frequently as landmines
The presence of unexploded ordnances spread throughout vast surfaces in many nations “blocks access to land, streets and basic services”. The UN Secretary General stresses that today is a Day to also look at the progress made in the campaign against anti-personnel landmines: since the approval ten years ago of the Mine Ban Treaty – emphasized Ban Ki-Moon – 153 nations ratified or adhered to this measure; in the same period, 40-million anti-personnel ordnances were destroyed.
According to the UN Secretary General, the production, sale and transferal of mines has “almost been halted” and vast zones have been cleared of these ordnances.
(From MISNA)