News – December 2025

  • Myanmar: World’s largest number of landmine casualties

    December 4, 2025

    Myanmar has for the second consecutive year recorded the world’s highest number of landmine casualties (2,029), which is double the total reported for the preceding year. Syria had the second highest number of casualties (1,015), followed by Afghanistan (624) and Ukraine (293). The Myanmar military continued their use of antipersonnel mines, as they have done every ...

  • UNDP Call Seeks Innovative Ways to Make Communities Safer from Hidden Underwater Explosives

    December 3, 2025

    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a global innovation challenge to identify bold, practical solutions that can help crisis-affected communities recover and rebuild. Through these open calls, UNDP is seeking fresh ideas from scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs around the world – ideas that can make recovery faster, safer and more sustainable in some ...

  • Japan signs deal to provide $26 million to help Ukraine remove landmines

    December 3, 2025

    Japan has signed a deal to give Ukraine an aid package worth about 26 million dollars to help the country clear away landmines. In October, the Japanese government hosted an international conference in Tokyo to discuss support for landmine removal efforts in Ukraine. The government decided to provide the nation with the financial aid package during ...

  • Landmines: Action Needed to Reinforce Ban

    December 1, 2025

    The global ban on antipersonnel landmines saves civilian lives but faces serious threats from countries leaving the treaty and new landmine use, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing the “Landmine Monitor 2025” report. Member countries should take immediate and strong action to counter these life-threatening developments. The 163-page report assesses implementation of and adherence to ...

  • Landmine casualties hit four-year high as treaty setbacks deepen

    December 1, 2025

    Civilian deaths and injuries from landmines and explosive remnants of war have risen to their highest level in four years, according to the Landmine Monitor 2025 report launched in Geneva on Monday. It documents 6,279 casualties in 2024. Children remain especially vulnerable, particularly in conflict-affected countries where displaced families are returning to heavily contaminated areas. “Civilians ...

  • Robotics Researchers Take a Groundbreaking Approach to Land Mine Detection

    December 1, 2025

    Leaving behind a decades-long legacy of threats to life, land mines continue to be used across conflict zones and surrounding areas. Globally, the challenge remains immense. A 2024 NATO report notes the presence of 110 million land mines across 70 countries and territories. While the Mine Ban Treaty has been in place since 1997, improvised explosive ...

  • Libya: United Nations and Italy review progress on clearing Misratah blast site

    December 1, 2025

    The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UN Resident Coordinator (DSRSG/RC) in Libya, accompanied by the Ambassador of Italy, visited Misratah on 23 November to assess efforts to remove remaining hazards from the site of the 31 August explosion. “The United Nations stand with the families and communities affected by this tragic incident,” said DSRSG/RC ...