Afghanistan’s many wars
After 25 years of war, Afghanistan is one of the countries in the world most affected by landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). The origins of this misery derive from the Soviet occupation period, but the subsequent civil war between the Afghan government and the Mujahedin movement, conflicts between various warlords and the Taliban war against the North Alliance have all contributed to the problems of mines and ERW. The Coalition war against terror, with extensive bombing campaigns, has only added to the existing contamination.

Afghanistan is one of the most severely mine affected countries in the world, but also has one of the largest and most established demining programmes in the world, with an existence for more than twenty years. In affect the numbers of mine related casualties have dropped over the years from over 2,100 (deaths and injuries) in 2002, to 508 in 2009, according to the Mine Action Coordination Center of Afghanistan (MACCA). However, the MACCA recorded 661 mine and ERW casualties for 2010, partly due to the continuing rise in the number of civilian victims to Improvised Explosive Ordinances (IED). IED’s are commonly used in the recent Afghan war and the vast majority of these are assumed to kill civilians. Designed to be triggered by the weight of approximately 10-100kilograms it places them within the definition of Anti-personal mines.

DDG’s Assistance to returning refugees and affected communities
The beneficiaries of Danish Demining Group’s (DDG) operations in Afghanistan include recently returned refugees from neighbouring countries such as Iran and Pakistan, internally displaced people and the vulnerable populations living in rural parts of Afghanistan.

During the period 1998-2011 DDG have recovered and disposed more than 1.300.000 unexploded ordnance, 33.800 landmines and Mine Risk Education has been delivered to more than 372.500 people in the affected communities. DDG have cleared more than 5.133.000sqm of landmine contaminated land in Afghanistan, 21.445.000sqm of battle area and covered 3,500 villages in Village-by-Village explosive ordnance clearance.

The Village-to-Village clearance concept introduced by DDG to the rest of the Mine Action community has proven effective and cost-efficient. This concept has improved both quality and safety aspects of the overall Mine Action in Afghanistan and DDG are looking forward to further develop this methodology.

Developing capacity to assist
Resent year of expansion in DDG Afghanistan’s programming has materialised into a benefit for the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA), led by the Government of Afghanistan.

• During 2008 DDG introduced the use of Mini-Mine Wolf’s into the Mine Action Program of Afghanistan. These intrusive clearance assets in the demining significantly increase the rate at which cleared land can be released to affected communities.
• In coordination with the Mine Action Coordination Centre for Afghanistan (MACCA) DDG in 2008 made the decision to relocate all clearance assets in the western region to the central and northern regions of Afghanistan. This relocation has enabled DDG to enhance the impact of operations on regeneration of livelihoods through mine and UXO clearance in selected high priority areas. 
• DDG operators work in small and flexible clearance sections (teams) and are cross-trained to conduct both explosive ordnance disposal and manual clearance tasks. This makes DDG capable of responding effectively and efficiently to an increasing number of small and varied suspected hazardous areas within its areas of operations.
• DDG’s establishment of a training department has help in developing organisational capacity of national staff, whilst it also assists in training national staff from other Mine Action agencies and implementing partners. Providing courses on leadership, supervision, management and quality assurance DDG is partner in strengthen these organisations from within.

In country operational capacity
As of January 2012, DDG’s operational plan includes 76 Clearance Sections, 4 Mechanical Demining Units, 7 Mine Risk Education and Impact Monitoring teams, 6 survey teams and 4 Support Sections (preparations). This workforce of 850 national staff members is deployed in the northern region and central regions supported by a field office in each of the respective regions and HQ in Kabul.

An antipersonnel IED that is victim-activated—one that explodes on contact by a person—is considered an antipersonnel mine and prohibited under the Mine Ban Treaty. (Ottawa Convention).