International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action

Clearing the Path to Peace: Why Mine Awareness Still Matters

Over 10,000 people are killed or maimed by landmines each year- 40% of which are children.

April 4 was declared the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action by the UN General Assembly in 2005. Landmines, explosive remnants of war, and improvised explosive devices are found in at least 60 countries across the globe, remaining a deadly threat even decades after conflicts end. Triggered by as little as three pounds of pressure, they disproportionately impact children, displaced populations, and animals.

These hidden hazards prevent communities from returning home and rebuilding their lives in peace, as every square meter of land must be carefully cleared before it can be safely used for schools, farms, and housing. Mine detection dog teams can search land up to 30 times faster than manual deminers, and since 1997, the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) has donated 350 mine detection dogs (MDDs) and explosive detection dogs (EDDs), made possible by the generosity of dedicated donors.

In addition to its MDD and EDD programs, MLI works to combat the impact of landmines and support affected communities through risk education, advocacy, and survivor assistance initiatives. The impact of landmines extends far beyond the moment of detonation. For children, the consequences are especially devastating. Their physical injuries are often more severe than those of adults, their emotional trauma deeper, and their future economic opportunities dramatically limited. Many child survivors face overwhelming barriers to attending school, accessing prosthetics or medical care, learning new skills to adapt, or building families of their own as adults.

MLI provides medical assistance, prosthetics, and vocational training to thousands of survivors — especially children — offering renewed hope and a pathway to a brighter future. 

In honor of International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, MLI’s very own CHAMPS program will be participating in the UN’s “Lend Your Leg” campaign.  You can join us in making a difference by supporting landmine survivors and mine-affected communities—“Lend Your Leg” this International Landmine Awareness Day! You can get involved with CHAMPS, sponsoring an MDD or EDD, and survivors assistance in the battle against landmines by donating today!