Every year on 4 April, International Day for Mine Awareness is celebrated to spread awareness about the dangers of landmines and other explosive devices (Explosive Remnants of War – ERW) around the world.
Landmines laid during war in many countries are still taking the lives of people. These tunnels are hidden inside the ground and explode as soon as a person or vehicle comes in contact with them. Due to this, thousands of innocent people lose their lives or become disabled every year.
The theme of International Day for Mine Awareness 2025 is “A Step Towards a Safer World”, which aims to free the world from the dangers of landmines.
What is mine awareness?
Mine Awareness means giving information to people about how dangerous landmines are and how to avoid them. It includes many important aspects.
- Making people aware – especially in areas where landmines may be laid.
- Teaching safety measures – People are told what to do if they see a landmine.
- Promoting landmine removal techniques (Demining Process).
- Providing assistance and rehabilitation services to landmine victims.
Dangers of landmines
- Danger to people’s lives – Landmines can harm anyone – children, farmers, soldiers, and passersby.
- Cause of disability – Survivors of a landmine explosion often lose their arms and legs.
- Mental trauma (PTSD) – Survivors of the accident have to face fear and anxiety for a long time.
- Economic loss – Areas affected by landmines become unsafe for agriculture and business.
- Big danger for children – Children often touch landmines thinking they are toys, which leads to serious accidents.
Importance of International Day for Mine Awareness
Many organizations around the world are working for Mine Awareness and Demining.
- United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) –This organization of the United Nations works to remove landmines and make people aware in the war-affected areas of the world.
- International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) – This organization works towards imposing a global ban on landmines and helping the victims.
- Halo Trust – Halo Trust is the world’s largest NGO that works to remove landmines from war-affected areas.
- Red Cross – This organization provides medical assistance and rehabilitation services to war-affected people.
Status of mine awareness in India
In India, the threat of landmines is mainly seen in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab and the northeastern states.
- The Indian Army works to remove landmines in the border areas.
- The government and NGOs together run mine awareness campaigns.
- Education programs are run to make people aware in rural areas
How to increase mine awareness?
Some important steps can be taken to make people aware:
- Education and training programs – Awareness campaigns should be run in schools, colleges and villages.
- Social media campaigns – Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube should be used.
- Cooperation of government and NGOs – Government and non-governmental organizations should work together to solve this problem.
- Identification of dangerous areas – People should be informed to avoid landmine areas.
- Use of technology – Landmines can be identified and removed with modern technologies like drones, robotics and AI.
How to celebrate International Day for Mine Awareness 2025?
The following steps can be taken to celebrate this special day:
- Awareness Campaigns – Inform people about mine awareness through social media.
- Educational Programs – Organise workshops on this subject in schools and colleges.
- Support NGOs – Support organisations that are working for Mine Awareness and Demining.
- Sign Petitions – Inspire the government to ban landmines.
Conclusion
International Day for Mine Awareness 2025: A Step Towards a Safer World” teaches us that landmines are not just a problem of the past, but even today they are endangering the lives of people in many countries.
We should contribute at our level to increase mine awareness and create a safe future. On this day, we all should pledge that we will understand this problem, make others aware and help in making the world free from landmines by supporting organizations.