Landmines are one of the most widely used weapons in contemporary conflicts. Landmines are cheap to buy and profitable to sell. They are easy to use and hard to detect. They kill, maim and terrorize indiscriminately. They are used deliberately to push people from their homes. They remain vigilant long after the guns fall silent. Landmines kill or maim every twenty minutes. Landmines and poverty make a devastating combination. In rural areas, where health facilities are weak or non- existent, the poorest of the poor are the most severely affected. They are the most likely to die from mine injuries. Landmine survivors are often totally dependent on immediate family members for continued survival. The social and economic costs are enormous. Mines destroy livelihoods and deny access to land, water sources, schools, and pathways. They cripple recovery in countries emerging from conflict.
