In conflict zones where new technologies are making landmines more dangerous, deminers must innovate at the same pace to avoid being left behind, a leading UN mines expert has told UN News.
In the Ukraine conflict, landmine technology is setting a precedent for a new era of development. 3D printers are used to produce basic models of landmines close to the battlefield, which can then be easily assembled, filled with explosives and dropped by drones.
In fact, the majority of mines deployed in Ukraine today are being laid remotely, either by artillery, rockets, helicopters, or drones.
"We're also seeing much more high-tech mines being deployed," making landmine detection a "much more complicated and dangerous task", said Paul Heslop, Head of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Ukraine.
These "high-tech" landmines are equipped with sensors that can detect a deminer approaching, whether on foot or in a vehicle, and then detonate. Some even have magnetic influence capabilities, meaning they can go explode when exposed to the magnetic field of a detector.
"The piece of technology you're using to find the mine may actually activate the mine," Mr. Heslop said.
As the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is marked on 4 April , the UN mine specialist said that the biggest challenge is how to win the arms race of clearing faster than the technology to stop them being cleared is being developed.
