It paperwork 6,279 casualties in 2024. Youngsters stay particularly weak, notably in conflict-affected nations the place displaced households are returning to closely contaminated areas.
“Civilians made up 90 per cent of casualties in 2024,” stated Loren Persi, Influence Crew Lead for the report. “And youngsters remained a good portion of all casualties, nearly half…In Afghanistan, 77 per cent, so over three-quarters of all casualties, had been kids, which is horrific.”
The launch was led by the Worldwide Marketing campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and hosted by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Analysis (UNIDIR).
States withdrawing from treaty
The report warns that the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty faces its most critical problem in a long time, with a number of States Events taking steps that “concretely threaten the continued well being of the conference”, stated Ban Coverage Editor Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan.
5 European States Events – Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – are transferring to legally withdraw, citing dramatically altered safety situations after Russia’s full-scale 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
On Ukraine itself, Mr. Moser-Puangsuwan famous that the federal government argues it might “droop” sure treaty obligations whereas preventing a global armed battle – a place the Monitor disputes based mostly on the treaty’s authorized framework.
The report additionally cites indications of recent Ukrainian mine use in 2024–2025, together with gadgets apparently deployed by drones, though the extent stays unclear.
The Monitor confirms intensive mine use by Myanmar and the Russian Federation, and reviews allegations of use by Cambodian forces alongside the Thai border. Thailand has introduced proof of newly laid mines injuring its troopers.
An unexploded bomb is displayed in Syria’s Raqqa governorate.
Contamination spreading
Anti-personnel mine contamination impacts at the very least 57 states and different areas, together with 32 States Events. Seven stay “massively” contaminated: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Türkiye and Ukraine.
There was some progress. Oman accomplished clearance in 2025, the primary State Celebration to take action since 2020, and greater than half of affected States Events diminished contamination by way of survey and clearance efforts final 12 months.
However the broader image is troubling.
“Regardless of total constructive progress, the aspirational objective of finishing clearance by 2025 stays removed from being achieved,” stated Senior Researcher Katrin Atkins.
“The imaginative and prescient of a mine-free world has not been matched by satisfactory assets and efforts on the bottom. 2030 appears to be the brand new 2025.”
Funding disaster
A worsening funding shortfall is already undermining mine-action programmes.
Ruth Bottomley, the Monitor’s Mine Motion Funding Analysis Lead, stated heavy dependence on a number of main donors – notably america – has left the sector weak.
“In 2025, the US imposed a sector-wide funding freeze,” she stated. “This stalled some mine-action programmes and terminated others…highlighting the vulnerability of mine-action funding with its dependence on a number of main donors.”
Programmes in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Colombia, Tajikistan and Zimbabwe have already shut down. Sufferer help has been hit particularly onerous, with worldwide assist falling 23 per cent. Battle-weakened well being programs in nations reminiscent of Ukraine and Palestine are struggling amid a pointy rise in amputations.
Name for renewed dedication
Presenters warned that with out stronger funding, political resolve and compliance, mine contamination will develop sooner than humanitarian organizations can reply – leaving tens of millions in danger for many years to return.
