1. World problems
  2. Hazardous remnants of war

Hazardous remnants of war

  • Ineffective minesweeping
  • Derelict military explosive devices
  • Unexploded bombs
  • Uncleared minefields
  • Uncleared sea mines
  • Uncleared landmines
  • Unexploded ordnance

Nature

Explosive devices engineered to detonate by pressure on contact or by proximity are used as antitank, antipersonnel and antivessel weapons. They may be employed by regular military forces, by guerrillas, by terrorists, by saboteurs or by criminals. In large numbers, such land or naval mines afford the opportunity that one or more will escape detection and minesweeping removal actions. Such derelict naval mines, fixed or floating free, remain a threat to ships at sea or coming into ports. Unremoved land mines are a hazard to any vehicles, persons, livestock or single animals in the vicinity.

Background

Land mines made their first appearance (together with poison gas) in World War I, when Germans buried fused artillery shells to counter allied tank offensives. In the 1920s, the use of chemical weapons was successfully outlawed, in part because belligerents had a mutual interest in respecting the ban. By contrast, landmines were less obviously horrifying, easier to use than chemical weapons, and had the tactical benefit of forcing tanks into narrow passages that had been swept of mines. Soon, light, easy-to-handle explosives made possible anti-personnel bombs that could be detonated by a footfall.

Incidence

According to Forbes, the USA left behind up to 600,000 weapons, 75,000 military vehicles and 16,000 night vision devices in its hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2019..

By the middle of the 1990's it was estimated that there were 80 to 110 million unswept landmines in 64 countries worldwide. Afghanistan, Angola and Cambodia were thought to contain 28 million mines, and 22,000 mine-related casualties had occurred in these countries each year. Africa had more than 20 million landmines, killing 12,000 people a year, mostly civilians. Iraq, Sudan, Mozambique, Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea contained more than 1 million mines each. In 1993, 80,000 landmines were extracted worldwide at a cost of $200 to $1000 per extraction, and 2.5 million mines were implanted at a cost of $3 each.

Mining of the Suez Canal in 1984 by unknown saboteurs was not effectively countered by sweeping, and ships were damaged. Newer mining armaments technology may include non-metallic, undetectable mines; 'smart' naval mines that move; and systems approaches to land mining, particularly around fixed tactical or strategic installations, that are not possible to sweep (such as time-delay fuses on nylon-canistered devices, or C-B mines). The material remnants of war, particularly mines and unexploded bombs have been left on the territories, most recently in developing countries. These materials seriously impede development and cause injuries and the loss of lives and property. In situations such as in Angola in 1993 where fighting continues intermittently reliefs supplies are cut off. People faced with starvation are obliged to dig up cassava root crops in long-abandoned fields containing unexploded mines.

Claim

Hazardous remnants of war pose a grave and urgent threat to global safety and health. Unexploded ordnance, landmines, and toxic materials linger long after conflicts end, endangering civilians, hindering development, and contaminating ecosystems. This insidious legacy of violence not only claims lives but also stifles communities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and instability. It is imperative that the international community prioritizes the clearance and remediation of these dangers to protect future generations and foster lasting peace.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Counter-claim

While hazardous remnants of war may seem concerning, they are often exaggerated in importance. Many regions have successfully managed these remnants, and the focus should be on current issues like poverty and climate change that affect millions daily. The resources spent on addressing remnants could be better allocated to pressing humanitarian needs. Ultimately, the narrative around hazardous remnants distracts from more significant global challenges that require immediate attention and action.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Broader

Narrower

Aggravates

Human death
Presentable
Loss of property
Unpresentable

Aggravated by

War
Excellent
Bombardment
Unpresentable

Related

Fracture of limb
Yet to rate

Strategy

Value

War
Yet to rate
Ineffectiveness
Yet to rate
Hazard
Yet to rate
Explosion
Yet to rate
Dereliction
Yet to rate

Web link

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #10: Reduced InequalitySustainable Development Goal #12: Responsible Consumption and ProductionSustainable Development Goal #15: Life on LandSustainable Development Goal #17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(D) Detailed problems
Biological classification
N/A
Subject
  • Amenities » Equipment
  • Defence » Arms
  • Defence » Defence
  • Defence » Military
  • Defence » War
  • Industry » Chemical products » Chemical products
  • Societal problems » Hazards
  • Societal problems » Ineffectiveness
  • Societal problems » Wreckage
  • Content quality
    Excellent
     Excellent
    Language
    English
    1A4N
    F2613
    DOCID
    11626130
    D7NID
    148034
    Last update
    Mar 15, 2022