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Improvised Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War Killing, Maiming More
Civilians, Monitoring Group Finds

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - This year's edition of the Landmine Monitor finds civilian
   casualties are rising because of the new use of improvised landmines by
   rebel groups in conflict areas and from explosive remnants of war.

   Despite several setbacks, authors of the Landmine Monitor proclaim the
   1999 landmine treaty an ongoing success. They note 164 countries, or 80
   percent of the world's nations, have signed on to the treaty, which
   bans the use, production, stockpiling and trade in this lethal weapon.

   And, they note, most of the 33 countries outside the treaty are in ad
   hoc compliance.

   The Monitor reports only one state, Myanmar, which is not party to the
   treaty, used antipersonnel landmines from mid-2019 through October
   2020. During the same period, however, it reports the use of improvised
   landmines by rebel groups increased in a number of countries.

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