2 December 2014, 10:54 GMT
NEW YORK, December 3 (Sputnik) — The number of people who were killed or injured from landmines fell to its lowest level since records began in 2013, and almost all use and production of the weapons ceased, according to an annual study released Wednesday.
“While far too many people are still losing their lives and limbs to landmines, new casualties are at their lowest level ever recorded — possibly the best measure of how successful the Mine Ban Treaty has been,” editor of the Landmine Monitor report Megan Burke said.
According to the group, stocks of antipersonnel mines are present in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine between Kiev forces and self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, and it is impossible to determine whether these mines have been used.
Last year, the recorded number of casualties from mines and other such weapons fell to 3,308, the lowest level since records began in 1999. This year, Oman became the 162nd country to ratify the global Mine Ban Treaty and the United States introduced new policies against landmine use.
