Vietnam: Three cluster bombs safely detonated in Quang Tri province

A mobile explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team from NPA/RENEW successfully neutralised three dangerous cluster munitions found in residential areas in the central province of Quang Tri, following reports from local residents. On July 3, a local woman discovered an unexploded Read More …

Iran used ballistic missiles with cluster warheads to strike Israel

Iran fired at least one ballistic missile with a warhead containing multiple submunitions as part of a particularly destructive barrage on Israel earlier today. Ballistic missiles loaded with cluster munitions present additional complications for defending forces, especially when it comes to Read More …

Cambodia: CMAC destroys US cluster bomb, reaffirms mine-free commitment

The demining authorities have safely destroyed a US-dropped cluster bomb found in a cashew plantation in Ratanakiri province, reaffirming Cambodia’s commitment to becoming mine- and ERW-free. The demolition was conducted on Monday by Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC)’s Demining Unit Read More …

Fifty years after the Vietnam War, bombs and landmines still cover an area ‘the size of Tasmania’

They found one while digging the foundations of a new hotel. Another was discovered in the middle of a park. A family spotted one in their garden. And Ho Van Lai and his cousins found several in the sand dunes, Read More …

Cambodia: Nearly half of mine accidents occur outside identified minefields

Nearly half of all mine accidents in Cambodia over the past decade have occurred outside of officially identified minefields—an alarming indicator that vast areas remain unsurveyed. The government has tasked the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) to conduct a comprehensive Read More …

Vietnam: Silently, officers and soldiers of the Engineer Corps in mine clearance

In today’s peacetime, there are still silent wars within silence, dangers within dangers and hardships of the Engineer soldiers. That is the war in searching for bombs, mines, and explosives left over from the war . At the border of Read More …

Britain urged to join allies in pulling out of landmine treaty

Britain has been urged to withdraw from the key landmine and cluster bomb treaties to counter the deteriorating global security situation, former defence secretary Ben Wallace has said. With Russia’s military might growing and the US disengaging from Nato, Mr Read More …

Lithuania’s departure from the Convention on Cluster Munition creates dangers for its population and global norms

Lithuania will formally withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, an unprecedented move with potentially profound consequences for the protection of civilians in Lithuania and elsewhere. This date ends the convention’s required six-month delay after Lithuania submitted its official intent Read More …

The challenge of explosive contamination in Iraq

Iraq’s history of conflicts – the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), the Gulf War (1990–1991), the 2003 invasion, and the war against ISIS – has left the country heavily contaminated with explosive remnants. Cluster bombs, landmines, improvised explosive devices, and chemical weapons Read More …

Syria: Explosive remnants of civil war pose a daunting challenge

Almost 14 years of civil war contaminated swathes of the Syrian Arab Republic with roughly 324,600 unexploded rockets and bombs and thousands of landmines, according to a 2023 estimate by the US-based Carter Center. In the last four years alone, Read More …

Lebanon: Deminers back in action as critical task awaits in southern Lebanon

Despite the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, most of the Lebanese people displaced over the past three months have already started returning to their homes. However, for most, it is not a happy homecoming. According to the World Bank, Read More …

Laos’ Hidden Suffering: Landmines And UXO Killing More Innocent Children

In the rugged and scenic mountains of remote villages in Laos, children and farmers contend with a legacy of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) threatening their lives for over 40 years. These leftover war remnants from the horrific Vietnam War Read More …

Tackling the threats posed by Improvised Explosive Devices

Following a successful side event organised by France on 14th October 2024, held alongside the First Committee of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on the responses to the threats posed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Sebastian Read More …

Yemen: YEMAC warns citizens not to approach cluster bombs swept away by floods in Hodeida​

The Executive Center for Mine Action renewed its warning to citizens in Hodeida governorate and the rest of the governorates, against approaching mines, cluster bombs, and remnants of aggression that were swept away by the floods to separate areas. The Read More …

Lebanon: Japan supports mine action in El Mechref in El Chouf District

Handicap International Federation (HI), to enhance community safety by clearing explosive remnants of war in El Mechref village, Chouf district. On August 6, 2024, Ambassador MAGOSHI Masayuki signed a grant contract with Mr. Aurelien Thienpont, Country Manager of HI. HI Read More …

Getting to Completion: Funding Mine and Cluster Munition Clearance in Lebanon, Mauritania and Zimbabwe

A survey of clearance operators and national authorities provides insight into how close three countries are to removing all anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions. This policy brief summarises data collected for Lebanon, Mauritania and Zimbabwe on budgets for clearing anti-personnel Read More …

Crimea: Four killed, 153 injured in Ukraine’s attack on Sevastopol

Four people died and 153 sought medical help after Ukraine’s aattack on Sevastopol, Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said, citing the final figures. On June 23, Ukraine attacked civilian infrastructure in Sevastopol using ATACMS tactical missiles equipped with cluster munitions. While Read More …

Ukraine downs ‘cluster’ Kh-101 missile for the very first time

Ukrainian forces have reportedly downed a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile equipped with a cluster warhead for the first time. This took place on the night of June 7, during which a Tu-95MS bomber launched five Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles. Current evidence Read More …

Cambodia: Over 51 square kilometres of landmines cleared in first three months

In the first three months of this year, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) cleared more than 51 square kilometres of mines-contaminated land. According to the centre’s report published recently, CMAC found and destroyed 4,092 mines, including 4,058 anti-personnel mines, Read More …