The Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon issued a message on the occasion of 4 April,  the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. In his message, he called the landmines responsible for tolling the lives of the people, hampering development and damaging the environment in areas of the world like Afghanistan, Nepal, Sudan and many other areas that have been or continue to be affected by conflicts. The Secretary General underlined the United Nations work during the past two decades in assisting the affected countries in their mine awareness raising and taking mine actions. Mr. Ban Ki-moon hoped that all would rededicate themselves to this life-saving cause so that the future generations can live on a planet free from the threats caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war. The full text of the UN Secretary General appears below:

“Landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to inflict a terrible toll.  These indiscriminate weapons cause grievous injuries and death, hamper reconstruction in post-conflict zones, damage the environment, and are an obstacle to socioeconomic and development activities long after conflicts have ended. They clog roads in Afghanistan, Sudan, Cambodia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They block access to schools and to hospitals in Laos, Gaza and Nepal.

But our work in this sector continues every hour of every day -- and it is a success story.  Over the past two decades, United Nations assistance in mine action has reached more than 60 countries and territories. In addition to removing weapons, mine action efforts develop local capacity, restore the dignity of survivors and build safe environments for civilians, affected communities and United Nations peacekeepers. Such actions make an invaluable contribution to our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Our mine action work also involves promoting universal adherence to all relevant legal instruments, including the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention, Protocol V on explosive remnants of war, and the Convention on Cluster Munitions the latter will enter into force on 1 August 2010.  The Second Review Conference of the Mine Ban Convention, held last December in Cartagena, witnessed a renewed commitment to the treaty and to mine action efforts around the globe.

This work requires constant vigilance, diligence and collective action on many fronts.  On this International Day, I salute the mine action workers who brave dangerous conditions and risk their lives in this pursuit.  Let us all rededicate ourselves to this life-saving cause so that our children can live on a planet free from the threats caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war.”

Additional Information

On 8 December 2005, the General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be officially proclaimed and observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (A/RES/60/97).

It called for continued efforts by States, with the assistance of the United Nations and relevant organizations, to foster the establishment and development of national mine-action capacities in countries where mines and explosive remnants of war constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the civilian population, or an impediment to social and economic development at the national and local levels.

According to the Mine Action Journal, the mine-affected areas of Iran are primarily in the western border regions, the area that saw most action in the 1980–1988 war with Iraq. The hazardous residue of that war stretches from Abadan on the Persian Gulf to the Turkish border some 600 kilometers (373 miles) north. These contaminated areas incorporate a wide variety of ground types, including swamps, wetlands, marshes, deserts, fertile agricultural land and mountain ranges. The munitions found are common to most mine-affected countries—anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, grenades, mortars, shells, bombs and munitions capable of scattering—but chemical weapons were also used and their remnants can still be found in some areas.

The UN data reveals that about 70 countries are affected by landmines or explosive remnants of war, which together claimed nearly 5,200 casualties around the world last year.  In Lebanon alone, unexploded munitions left from the 2006 Israeli attack on south Lebanon have left 46 civilians dead and over 300 injured, according to the UN and Lebanese army figures.

Landmines and explosive remnants of war also take a heavy toll on people's livelihoods, the economic and social development of countries, and international peace-building and peace-keeping efforts.