Toolbox

 

A better understanding of the scale and nature of the problem enables us to see more clearly how these problems can be solved. There is no single, simple solution to the global landmine problem. Every single area affected by mines has its own special characteristic, depending on the extent, duration and nature of the problem. Landscape, climate and existing infrastructure also imposes its limits as to how each specific problem can be solved. Mine infested areas in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, regions were Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) work, all demand different solutions due to technical and logistical challenges. NPA has developed an adjustable response to the many challenges represented by minefields around the world. These instruments, a variety of methods and technologies, can be deployed where they are most suited. We call this our demining toolbox.

Mine Risk Education (MRE )

Those who live in mined areas before the mines are removed undergo mine security training aimed at reducing the risk of detonating
a mine or an Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). The training is aimed at both children and grown-ups, and can substantially reduce the number of mine accidents. Drama, cartoons, posters and the likes are used in raising awareness among the population.

Information Management (IM)

In order to gain an over-view of the mine problem in a given area, all available information related to the suspected and confirmed mine fields is collected, systematized and may be coupled with Geographic Information Systems. A complete survey (Non-Technical Survey and/or Technical Survey) of the mine problem in a given area, the nature of the places which have been mined, their locality and their effect, eases the prioritising of resource use, the measurements of possible results and the devising of realistic plans for clearance.

Task Impact Assessment (TIA)

TIA is a tool used actively by NPA before, during and after clearance activities, this in order to determine and measure the impact of clearance. TIA is a crucial tool for NPA in determining the socio economic effect NPA’s work has on people who live in, and the environment of, mine and cluster contaminated areas.

Manual Demining

This method is used worldwide. Deminers systematically search an area with metal detectors and prodders in order to locate possible mines. When a suspicious object is detected, the surrounding soil is carefully removed and the mines are defused or detonated. Manual demining is work and time consuming, but very reliable to the defined depth, and has the advantage of not requiring large investments to get started. Manpower is recruited and trained locally, and therefore manual demining has the additional advantage of creating employment.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Battle Area Clearance (BAC)

EOD personnel operate as specialized separate teams or within a demining unit. Specialized EOD personnel are also used for the disposal of Cluster Munitions. BAC teams are organized similarly to manual demining teams in order to undertake clearance of ERW in areas not contaminated with mines, such as our Cluster Munitions clearance programmes in Lao PDR, Vietnam, Georgia and Lebanon.

Mechanical Mine Clearance (MMC)

Armoured machines with various forms of earth removing equipment, rotating chains and the like are driven over the minefields. The machines reveal, destroy and/or explode mines lying in the ground. Different follow-up techniques to assure that the land is safe for the
end user is then applied, from visual investigation to a full demining drill depending on the situation in terms of terrain, vegetation, type of mines/ERW and the regulations in country. Mechanical mine clearance is effective in suitable areas, and has proven extremely useful when employing the Land Release methodology in order to define mine fields, and limit the area of a search. The development of mechanical mine clearance has progressed from heavy military equipment to lighter, more flexible civilian machinery.

Mine Detection Dogs (MDD) and Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD)

Dogs can be trained to detect Mines and remnant of explosives. NPA breeds, trains and uses Mine Detection Dogs (MDD) and Explosive Detection Dogs (EED) in its operations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Dogs are particularly effective in detecting mines and ERW in areas where it is difficult to determine the exact location of an ordinance and bigger areas must be verified. Also where mines have been scattered unsystematically, in difficult terrain and where mines and ERW are buried deep, dogs are an effective and sometimes the only tool that can be used. On clearance tasks, NPA uses a two-search procedure where initially, dogs on a long leash search a defined area, followed by a short leash dog search, and the dog handler walks in the area cleared by the dog. NPA is the only organization which uses this approach, an approach that has built up a high trust between the handler and the dog as well as the end user.

Land Release

Historically, inconsistent and inefficient methods of identifying and clearing mines and ERW have wasted precious demining resources and left affected areas contaminated. Past efforts to improve and optimize mine and ERW clearance have revealed that clearance and survey assets are often used too frequently, commanding significant resources to clear land with little or no actual contamination. Limited demining resources are made available and, despite an acknowledged need, this does not seem likely to change. Norwegian People’s Aid has worked intensively in cooperation with other demining stakeholders, towards the creation and implementation of a Land Release policy. The Land release method emphasizes the use of non technical and technical survey for the release of land, a method now widely recognized by stakeholders. The Land Release method frees expensive and time consuming demining resources for the clearance of actual mined areas and more rapidly frees land for the population for housing, infrastructure projects, agricultural purposes or other development activities.