Map

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History of minelaying

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For the last 40 years left wing Non States Armed Groups (NSAGs) have been in conflict with the Government. This has resulted in the use of locally manufactured mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), collectively described as “mines”. The Colombian military laid defensive mines around 34 of their bases whilst NSAGs and paramilitary organisations have used them in all aspects of their operations.

The problem

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Since 2001 when Colombia became a signatory to the Mine Ban Treaty military engineers have cleared 30 of the minefields they laid. In a few cases NSAGs, at the request of impacted communities, have cleared minefields they laid. However this still leaves over 8,000 Suspect Hazardous Areas (SHAs) that need to be addressed.

As a result Colombia now has mine accident rates similar to those of Afghanistan and Cambodia. The rates of civilian mine accidents are increasing dramatically as IDPs try to return home to cultivate land.

“The casualty rate from landmines, UXO, and IEDs in Colombia is one of the highest in the world. The extent of the problem is unknown, and there is [currently] a lack of clearance activities. The most affected department is Antioquia.” The Landmine Monitor Report 2009

“Because of the violence created by this internal conflict, Colombia has become the country, after Sudan, with the second largest number of internally displaced people (IDPs).... Colombia continues to have the world's highest increase in accidents with anti-personnel mines and UXO (unexploded ordnance), which are affecting more and more civilians”. ECHO Colombia 2009

Mines laid by NSAGs are found on routes used by government forces and around schools and houses used as bases in rural areas. In regions that the Colombian military now control these mines are still present and are preventing the civilian population returning and the necessary development taking place.

The solution

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The Colombian Government recognise thousands more deminers need to be deployed in Colombia to address the problem. In order to achieve this they have invited HALO to implement a large scale civilian clearance programme in Colombia. This programme will start in Antioquia Department.

Requirement for continued clearance

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The Government plans to expand the army’s six mineclearance teams to 14 in 2010. Even with this expansion to around 400 deminers, clearance of Colombia’s mines would take over 100 years. Therefore there is a critical requirement for a concerted expansion of the number of civilian deminers such as HALO's in Colombia and the continuation of the clearance conducted by the military engineers and, on occasions, informal clearance initiatives by indigenous communities and NSAGs.