Research Projects
Evaluating the impact of Mine Action clearance on livelihoods in the Lao PDR and Kurdistan (2008 - continuing)
Jo Durham
Land is able to be returned to productive use after MAG teams have removed unexploded ordnance, Khammoaune Province, Lao PDR. (Photo credit: Sean Sutton)
This study was conducted first in Laos, then the autonomous Kurdistan region and was supported by CASAAP (Lao component), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), National Regulatory Authority, Laos. Following violent conflict, explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination remains a threat to health causing death and injury. This contamination also limits access to basic livelihood assets including security, land, shelter, water and food and restricts rehabilitation of health producing services including health clinics, schools and transport. Humanitarian mine action is the international response.
Humanitarian mine action proposes that ERW removal impacts positively on post-conflict rehabilitation, household well-being and MDGs. But is it effective? How, in what ways and in what contexts does it contribute to well-being and MDGs? Following clearance, how are local development spaces transformed? What are the implications for decision makers? This mixed methods research addresses these issues.
