Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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December 1, 2025 Peace and security
The number of civilian deaths and injuries from mines and explosive remnants of war has risen to its highest level in four years, according to a Landmine Monitor report presented in Geneva on Monday.
In 2024, 6,279 casualties from this type of weapon were recorded worldwide. Children in countries affected by armed conflict are particularly vulnerable.
"In 2024, 90 percent of casualties were civilians," noted Lauren Percy, the report's lead analyst. "Almost half of all casualties were children… In Afghanistan, 77 percent—more than three-quarters—were children, and that's appalling."
The presentation of the report in Geneva was organized by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines with the support of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.
The Convention is under threat
The report's authors warn that the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention is facing its most serious crisis in decades.
"Several countries are taking steps that genuinely threaten the viability of the convention," said disarmament expert Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan.
Five European countries – Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland – are preparing to legally withdraw from the convention, citing changed security conditions following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukrainian territory in 2022.
Ukraine, according to Moser-Puangsuwan, claims it can "suspend" certain convention obligations during the war. The report's authors consider such a move legally untenable. The report also cites indications of Ukraine's use of mines in 2024–2025, when explosive devices were allegedly dropped by drones.
Expanding pollution
Anti-personnel mines remain a serious problem in at least 57 countries and territories, including 32 states parties to the treaty. Seven countries remain heavily contaminated with remnants of war: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Turkey, and Ukraine.
On a positive note, Oman completed demining in 2025, becoming the first state party to do so since 2020. More than half of the countries have reduced contamination through site surveys and cleanup.
"Despite progress, the goal of completing mine clearance by 2025 remains elusive. Now, 2030 becomes a potential finish line," said senior researcher and report co-author Catherine Atkins.
Funding crisis
Lack of funding is already undermining mine action programs around the world.
"In 2025, the US froze funding for the sector," recalled analyst Ruth Bottomley. "This move halted some programs and completely closed others, demonstrating the vulnerability of a system dependent on a few large donors."
Mine clearance projects in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Colombia, Tajikistan, and Zimbabwe have already been closed. Victim assistance programs have also suffered: international support in this sector has been cut by 23 percent, and the healthcare systems of Ukraine and Palestine are struggling to cope with the rising number of amputations.
Experts warn that without restored funding, increased political will, and adherence to previous commitments, contamination of territories with hazardous remnants of war will grow faster than humanitarian organizations can respond.
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