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Friday, July 31, 1998 Published at 08:29 GMT 09:29 UK
UK Politics
Landmine facts and figures
Princess Diana highlighted suffering from landmines in Angola
- The Red Cross estimates that there are 120 million mines laid across the world, and that they kill or maim someone every 20 minutes.
- Landmines kill or maim more than 2, 000 people a month, primarily civilians.
- Once landmines have been laid, they are completely indiscriminate in their action. The UN estimates that landmines are at least 10 times more likely to kill or injure a civilian after a conflict than a combatant during hostilities.
- 30-40% of the victims of landmines are children under the age of 15.
- Each year between two and five million new mines are put in the ground.
- Anti-personnel landmines laid during World War II are still killing and maiming civilians.
- The Red Cross has estimated that over the last 50 years landmines have probably inflicted more death and injury than nuclear and chemical weapons combined.
- The UN has estimated that a landmine which costs $3 to purchase costs between $200 and $1,000 to clear.
- Angola is the most mined country in the world, with approximately 15 million uncleared landmines. More than 30,000 Angolans have had limbs amputated as a result of mine explosions.
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