Landmines and other explosive war remnants maim or kill 20 people a day

Landmines and other explosive remnants of war claimed an average of 20 new victims each day in the past decade, says a new report.

The Landmine Monitor Report 2009 says that in the 10 years from 1999 to 2009 almost 18 000 people from 119 countries were killed by explosive war remnants and that almost 52 000 people were injured. Most of the victims (71%) were civilians, a third of them (32%) children.

More than a quarter of the total casualties occurred in Afghanistan and Cambodia, with Afghanistan accounting for 16% of the casualties and Cambodia for 10%. Colombia and Iraq took third and fourth place.

In 2008 more than 1200 …