Ukraine is in the top five countries in the world with the highest death rate from landmine explosions and improvised explosive devices. The International Organization of Disabled People (Handicap International) states this in the report «Landmine Monitor 2019», which was presented in Munich on Thursday, November 21.
According to the organization, the most people died or were injured by mines as a result of armed conflicts in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Mali, Syria, Nigeria and Myanmar.
In 2018, 6,897 people died or were injured from landmines and improvised explosive devices in the world.
This number mostly comprises of civilians, with more than half of them are children.
According to experts, the number of victims has been unusually high for the fourth year in a row, despite the effect of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines.
As of August 2018, 164 countries have already joined the convention.
As we reported, on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Alliance members to provide more resources in order to support Ukraine and Georgia. He also reminded about their importance as partners of the Alliance in the Black Sea region.
