Lahore: The flood waters that ravaged one-fifth of Pakistan's territory from late July to September this year have receded from most parts of the country.
However, they have left behind broken houses, turned fields into swamps and brought in diseases — and in some cases, they have also washed in some dangerous cargo as well.
Landmines, from areas of conflict in the tribal regions and Kashmir have been swept by floods to regions downstream. This also means that common people are not prepared for the presence of these objects and are unable to take precautionary measures.
Serious injury
Last month, the International Committee of Red Cross had reported at least two accidents, including one in which a woman collecting firewood was seriously injured, in two areas where landmines had previously had not been located.
Pakistani authorities have been quoted as saying that dozens of landmines may have drifted with the flood waters into Punjab. Three explosions have also been reported in the town of Dera Ismail Khan in the Khyber-Pakhtoonkh'wa province.
"We were warned by military teams engaged in rescue work here not to touch any suspicious object, and in particular to ensure children did not do so," said Aziz Khan, a labourer in the town which stands by the Indus River.
Pakistani bomb disposal squads have been working to remove the landmines. International help has also been sought. Pakistan remains one of the countries which have not signed the 1997 Ottawa Treaty or Mine Ban Treaty that has been agreed upon by 122 nations. This treaty prevents nations from manufacturing, using or stockpiling anti-personnel mines.
Scores of casualties
Groups in Pakistan also continue to call for a ban on such weapons which are responsible for scores of casualties each year, particularly in areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Disabled Peoples International, an NGO, reported 138 landmine injuries in Pakistan in 2003, including 48 deaths. Accidents involving landmines continue to be reported by groups monitoring the use of the weapons in the country.
Landmine injuries frequently lead to permanent disability. There is also alarming evidence that some of these deadly weapons have fallen into the hands of warring militant groups who have often used them against each other and also against the Pakistani soldiers.
