UN warns of anti-personnel mine crisis warning as global casualties rise, with civilians heavily affected in Myanmar, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has issued a stark warning over the growing global threat posed by anti-personnel mines, highlighting an escalating anti-personnel mine crisis warning as civilian casualties continue to rise across multiple conflict zones.

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In a statement released on Tuesday alongside a detailed report compiled from governments, humanitarian organisations and civil society groups, Volker Türk said it was “deeply troubling” that nearly three decades after the adoption of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, such weapons continue to kill and injure civilians long after deployment.

The report found that at least 58 states and territories are currently contaminated by anti-personnel mines, with the highest casualty figures recorded in Myanmar, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine, where ongoing conflicts have intensified humanitarian risks.

According to data cited from the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, at least 945 people were killed and 4,325 injured by landmines and explosive remnants of war in 2024 alone, with civilians accounting for approximately 90 percent of known casualties.

The report further stated that Myanmar recorded 2,029 casualties, followed by Syria with 1,015 and Afghanistan with 624, while Ukraine, Nigeria, Mali, Yemen and Burkina Faso each reported more than 200 cases of injury or death linked to explosive remnants.

Humanitarian experts warn that the anti-personnel mine crisis warning reflects a broader deterioration in compliance with international humanitarian norms, particularly in active conflict regions where civilian populations remain most vulnerable.

Volker Türk emphasised that children account for more than 40 percent of civilian casualties recorded since 1999, describing the impact as both “devastating and preventable”.

The UN human rights office also noted that mines not only kill and maim but also render large areas of land unusable, disrupting agriculture, prolonging displacement and blocking post-conflict recovery efforts.

While the Ottawa Convention currently has 162 state parties, the report noted that several countries with significant stockpiles have not joined, while others have recently withdrawn or suspended participation, further complicating global mine clearance efforts.

The report also highlighted a sharp decline in international funding for mine action, with contributions to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund falling from $125 million to $46 million over seven years, raising concerns about the sustainability of clearance operations.

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Despite these setbacks, Volker Türk welcomed recent steps by some states to join or rejoin the treaty framework, calling for renewed global cooperation to eliminate the threat posed by landmines.