Landmines and their environment

Skills Seminar 2nd December 2005.

What is a landmine?What is a landmine?

• A Target or ‘victim’ operated trap

• A ‘booby trap’• Industrially

(Commercially) produced

• Improvised• A concept in warfare

HistoryHistory

• Caltrops or spikes to deter cavalry• Sapping and mining under walls “And it shall go hard, but I will delve one yard below their

mines and blow them at the moon”…Hamlet. Act IV

• Melding explosive technology to concept• Improvisation• Industrial production• Doctrinal in warfare from WW1• Importance in Mobile warfare WW2• Indiscriminate use post 1945

Utility of landmines (1) MilitaryUtility of landmines (1) Military

• Increases the combat power of defending forces (Force Multiplier)

• Denies ground to an enemy force (or population)• Channels enemy forces into ‘killing areas’ for attack by

other means, artillery, aircraft.• Protects Key Installations, bases• Instills fear / doubt in attacking enemy forces• Instills confidence in defending forces• Attacks economy by denial of land and use of critical

infrastructure

Utility (2) Social and EconomicUtility (2) Social and Economic

• Deny productive land• Deny access to and use

of state infrastructure• Poverty• Create refugees• Attacks credibility of

governments to defend people

• Ethnic cleansing, drives ‘the unwanted’ out and keeps them out.

Utility (3) Killing and maiming?Utility (3) Killing and maiming?

• APMs designed to maim rather then kill

• Terror weapons – instill fear in opposing forces and civilians

• Unique psychological utility. One mine or ten?

Types of landminesTypes of landmines

• Anti-Personnel (APM)

• Anti-Tank

• Hybrids (Cluster bombs)

• Improvised from other munitions

Impact of landmines/mine warfareImpact of landmines/mine warfare

• Physical – reduction of valuable human capital• Economic• Social fragmentation• Psychological – Mental health• Against Aid and development programmes• Inward and Foreign direct investment

• Cost of clearance programmes

Landmines clearance -The real Landmines clearance -The real humanitarian imperative?humanitarian imperative?

• Save lives• Protect communities• Restore land and

infrastructure• Allow development to

proceed unhindered• Restore dignity• Restore confidence

What is a minefield?What is a minefield?

• Any area fought over in conflict regions, especially those with evidence of defensive military positions or which have changed hands a number of times MUST be suspected to be heavily mined or contaminated with Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

AvoidanceAvoidance

• If you or a colleague stray into a mined area, the most likely consequence will be death or severe crippling injury

• You posture must always be questioning, defensive, cautious.

• No complacency, no heroics.

RULE ONE – Ask questionsRULE ONE – Ask questions

• On arrival to new mission, in a new area

• When about to travel• When in doubt• To other agencies

(Military and Civilian) and NGOs

• Always carry communications equipment (radio)

Darwinism will out: Avoid being FIRST down the road in the morning

Rule Two – Doubt!Rule Two – Doubt!

• If in doubt TURN BACK

Rule Three – Why the journey?Rule Three – Why the journey?

• Never travel in areas of risk for non-essential reasons

Rule Four – En RouteRule Four – En Route

• When in the field, always keep to well used roads and tracks wherever practical

• Avoid old military positions

• Stay out of abandoned, war damaged buildings

• No souvenirs!SUCH AS!

Rule Five – Don’t Touch!Rule Five – Don’t Touch!

• Never touch, attempt to move, or approach landmines or items of UXO

Rule Six - AlertnessRule Six - Alertness

• STAY ALERT• Mines are usually buried• Mines are deliberately camouflaged, they blend

in – a design feature• The victim (YOU that is!) is usually looking in a

different direction

The Rules – A SummaryThe Rules – A Summary

• Ask questions

• If in doubt – turn back, or don’t make the journey

• Never travel for non-essential reasons

• Keep to well used tracks and roads

• Do NOT touch

• STAY ALERT

No heroes / No heroicsNo heroes / No heroics

• Neither Superman nor Wonderwoman exist in the real world.

• Simple adherence and basic defensive personal security measures

• No complacency

WORST case scenarioWORST case scenario

• You have strayed into a minefield:

Step One

1. Recognise the emergency. Communicate.

2. Stop and issue a warning, to your colleagues, by radio to base. Summon a rescue team. Stay Put.

Escape: ExtricationEscape: Extrication

• A minefield rescue team may not be available; thus

Step Two – Escape1. Identify safe ground (where you entered from)

2. Identify safest route back

3. One person takes charge

4. One person moves at a time

5. Maintain ten metre distance between personnel

Escape: MovementEscape: Movement

Step three

1. Retrace steps exactly, closely where possible

2. Do not rush

3. Keep ten metre distance

4. Keep control

5. Above all – Do not panic

Escape: ProbingEscape: Probing

Step four ONLY UNDERTAKEN IF ESSENTIAL

1. 30 degree < angle 2. Every 15cm to width one metre of escape lane3. Carefully remove obstructions, stones etc. Do not

touch wires.4. Never touch the mine5. Do not attempt to lever or move mines with other

means6. Mark your way out.7. Proceed with utmost care

Escape: with casualtyEscape: with casualty

• Check area around casualty by probing and observation, don’t rush the job

• Stabilise casualty / first aid only• Reassurance • Remove during escape procedure• Do not rush – one casualty better than two or three!• Evacuate the casualty immediately (the golden hour)• Do not remove corpses – get out, the professionals will

retrieve any dead

Minefield rescue is a high risk undertaking, no one should be obliged to do so.

THINK AVOIDANCE !

Thanks for listening, be safe and have a Merry Christmas!

My Neighbours. Cambodia. Christmas Eve 1994