Research Project on Humanitarian Demining Proposed

Posted At : December 28, 2006 1:39 PM | Posted By : Admin
Related Categories: Research Studies

Washington, D.C. The Department of Health and Human Service Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is proposing to fund an observational baseline survey to assess the effectiveness of humanitarian demining efforts upon the economic, social and mental well being of impacted communities.

The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, a Harvard University organization, has been selected to conduct the study under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Government. According to the posting in Federal Register, the general theory to be examined is that individuals and local communities suffer when living in an area with landmines and UXO since they cannot use all land resources and suffer trauma when family members are injured or killed in accidental explosions.

The research project will involve the creation of a survey form designed to capture information directly from the local populace in communities impacted by landmines and UXO. After a brief pilot project, the actual survey work will be conducted in one country per year for a total of five years, depending upon available funding. The likely countries include Angola, Bosnia, Colombia, Lebanon, and Nepal.

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The traumatic effects of landmines and UXO have been sufficiently documented for years in publications ranging from simple photo essays to academic and propfessional papers by very well qualified people.
The funds would be better spent in actual landmine removal and aid to the various countries so impacted.

A completely wasteful project.

David A. Smith

# Posted By D. Smith | 1/29/07 6:05 AM

Dear Sir:

In reference to your study. As program manager for SE Asia, Latin America and Balkans, I recommend this study as long
overdue. I was humanitarian demining program manager for Cambodia, Laos, Vietnand, Thailand for six yeears. However, I believe the most impacted area by far is none of the countries you have referenced. I visited Cambodia over 20 times over this period visiting our on-going humanitarian demining projects at State Department. Camboida is easily the most horrificically impacted of all the areas with the largest amputee rate of civilians in the world. I believe this country should be studied above the others you have referenced.
during the course of this working period visiting small villages over Cambodia related to our on-going

# Posted By Ed Trimakas | 1/29/07 10:27 AM