Mine action
Mine action is a combination of humanitarian aid and development studies that aims to remove landmines and reduce the social, economic and environmental impact of them and the explosive remnants of war (ERW).
Non-technical surveying, or the formal gathering of mine-related information, is required before actual clearance can begin.
Impact surveys make use of all available sources of information, including minefield records (where they exist), data about mine victims, and interviews with former combatants and local people.
Minefield marking is carried out when a mined area is identified, but clearance operations cannot take place immediately.
Manual clearance relies on trained deminers using metal detectors and long thin prodders to locate the mines, which are then destroyed by controlled explosion.
Objectives are to reduce the risk to humans and to restore an environment where economic and social development can occur free from the constraints imposed by landmine contamination.
[8] These standards emphasize that MRE should typically not be a stand-alone activity; it is an integral part of overall mine-action planning and implementation.
Such information may focus on local risk-reduction messages, address broader national issues such as complying with legislation or raise public support for mine-action programmes.
"Education and training" is a two-way process that involves the imparting and acquiring of knowledge and the changing of attitudes and practices through teaching and learning.
It enables communities to be informed about planned demining activities, the nature and duration of the tasks, and the exact locations of marked or cleared areas.
Furthermore, it enables communities to inform local authorities and mine-action organizations about the location, extent and impact of contaminated areas.
This information can greatly assist the planning of related activities, such as technical surveys, marking and clearance operations, and survivor-assistance services.
It is a rapid, clean technique but has one major disadvantage, the lack of control over heating can lead to the formation of "hot spots" with a resultant initiation of the filling.
The cell is separated into two compartments by a membrane that allows ion flow but prevents bulk mixing of the anolyte and catholyte.
In the anolyte compartment a highly reactive species of silver ion attacks organic material ultimately converting it to CO2, H2O and non-toxic inorganic compounds.
