Mine ActionMine action is the removal of landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) from the ground. Years after a conflict within a country, thousands or even millions of landmines and other ERW have not been detonated underground. These weapons kill and injure thousands of innocent civilians every year. Simply walking on ground concealing an REG can trigger the explosive. There are two types of landmines: tank mines and antipersonnel mines. While tank mines are larger and require hundreds of pounds of pressure to explode, antipersonnel mines are specifically designed to harm humans. They are much smaller, harder to locate, and can be made for as little as three dollars. These hidden weapons not only endanger the lives of civilians; they also close roads, hinder post-conflict reconstruction and block the delivery of humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, communities affected by landmines often have no means of removing them. This is usually due to the lack of resources, knowledge and technology needed to dispose of them safely. Even with sufficient resources, it is likely that mine clearance will require hundreds of millions of dollars and take years. Mine clearance is a dangerous, expensive and time-consuming process. Before the explosive remnants of war can be removed, the machines must clear the vegetation covering the ground. “Safe pathways” are then created. Safety lanes are areas one to two meters wide that have been cleared so that people and machines can work safely and evacuate quickly in the event of an emergency. Individual mines are then located either by trained personnel using metal detectors and other tools...... middle of paper ...... Protocol II. Currently, 115 States are parties to the Convention. Further progress has been made since the treaties. In Cambodia, the number of mine deaths each year fell from 188 in 2006 to 48 in 2013. Last year, 162,000 people displaced in Yemen by explosive remnants of war were able to return to their homes thanks to mine clearance efforts. In Lebanon, 66% of land affected by mines and other explosive remnants of war is now cleared. Despite these efforts, landmines and other explosive remnants of war continue to be a major problem for many countries around the world. They kill and injure thousands of people every year. Landmines can also harm the environment and affect a country's economy by rendering good agricultural land, railway lines, etc. unusable or inaccessible. The international community must continue to seek ways to improve global mine action.