Whether there is one or a thousand mines in a minefield is of no importance. The field is just as lethal.

Sheer numbers stand behind the argument for demining. Statistics show there are more than 110 million mines distributed over the planet, that somebody is killed or maimed by a device every 22 minutes, and that it would take around 1,100 years to clear all of them. Those are the figures!

Our job is not simply to remove mines
We know that fear of mines and the existence of an unknown quantity of devices in the surrounding fields, in a schoolyard or in close proximity to the only water supply can paralyse a village. That is why we work at a local level to eradicate this fear amongst small communities. Clearing 10 mines along the path to a water supply can be enough to get a village functioning normally. Enough to encourage villagers to return home and go about their daily lives in safety. Without being afraid that their children or friends might be crippled or killed at one stroke. It often takes time, and no small amount of danger to locate and deactivate mines, but it can be done. And it matters. Sometimes we find out there are no mines present. That's great too, because the paralysis of fear is removed.

A question of priorities
Mines are also found in deserted areas on inaccessible mountainsides, in the desert, and so on. These are included in the terrifying statistics, but will have to wait until we have the means to deal with them. We have to focus our attention on prioritising our work. To do our best where it will make a difference and not drown in a sea of mines. The figures paint a picture so bleak public opinion might turn, and the taxpayer and politicians lose perspective and give up - it's such an immense task. So we have to view the numbers as unimportant. We cannot remove all the mineson earth, but we can get rid of the right ones and take away the fear.