UN Urges Global Action to Eliminate Landmine Threat: 100 Million Lives at Risk

UN Urges Global Action to Eliminate Landmine Threat: 100 Million Lives at Risk

April 10, 2025

In a powerful statement issued on Wednesday, the United Nations called on the international community to step up efforts to rid the world of landmines and explosive remnants of war, warning that more than 100 million people are at risk from these deadly devices.

Marking the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the UN emphasized the urgent need for cooperation and sustained funding to address the growing threat posed by landmines, particularly in conflict-affected regions across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.

“A War That Doesn’t End When the Guns Go Silent”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the lingering danger landmines pose long after conflict ends. “Landmines trap civilians in fear,” he said. “They make land unusable, prevent children from going to school, and stop communities from rebuilding.”

From Ukraine and Afghanistan to South Sudan and Syria, millions of acres of land remain unsafe due to unexploded ordnance. These weapons can lie dormant for years—sometimes decades—before being triggered by a footstep or farming tool.

Who’s Affected the Most?

The human cost is staggering. According to the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), over 5,000 people were killed or injured by landmines in 2024 alone, with children making up nearly 40% of the victims.

In many rural areas, survivors are often left permanently disabled, facing lifelong challenges without access to proper medical care or rehabilitation services. “It’s not just about clearing mines,” said Ilene Cohn, Director of UNMAS. “It’s about restoring lives and dignity.”

Global Progress—and Setbacks

There have been notable successes. Countries like Mozambique and Sri Lanka have made significant strides in mine clearance over the past decade, supported by international partners and non-profit organizations.

However, new conflicts—especially in Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine—have reversed years of progress. The production and use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by non-state actors have added complexity to clearance operations.

Funding is another major hurdle. The UN estimates that more than $500 million per year is needed to effectively support demining operations and victim assistance—but contributions are falling short.

The Road Ahead

The UN is now urging all member states, donors, and NGOs to renew their commitment to the Ottawa Treaty—a landmark agreement that bans the use of anti-personnel landmines—and to support humanitarian demining efforts with greater urgency.

Communities on the frontlines of past and present wars can’t wait.

“Every landmine removed is a life saved. Every cleared path is a future reclaimed,” said Guterres.

In the face of lingering war scars buried in the soil, the world has a clear choice: remove the danger, or leave generations to live in fear of forgotten bombs.