Long
after cessation of hostilities in war zones, landmines and unexploded
bombs remain.
Approximately every thirty minutes someone, somewhere in
the world is injured or killed by an encounter with this deadly debris.
In southeast Asia, an accident happens every day, shattering lives, hopes
and dreams.
At
Clear Path International we serve landmine and bomb accident survivors,
their families and their communities.
This assistance takes the
form of direct medical
and social services to survivors and their families as well as equipment
support to hospitals. Our current projects are in Vietnam, Cambodia and
on the Thai-Burma border.
Agreement Offers New Hope For Landmine and Bomb Survivors in Vietnam
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - Clear Path International and the International Trust for Demining & Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) signed a partnership agreement this week that could bring more than $200,000 in new funding for CPI's survivor assistance work in central Vietnam.
The agreement with ITF, a nonprofit organization founded in 1998 by the Republic of Slovenia to support post-conflict rehabilitation in the neighboring, war-torn Balkans, opens the door to long-term collaboration between the two organizations in Southeast Asia.
Clear Path International to Assist Afghan Landmine Survivors As Part of U.S. Department of State Contract
KABUL, Afghanistan – Clear Path International (CPI), a U.S.-based humanitarian mine action nonprofit organization, has received a multi-year contract from DynCorp International to start a landmine survivor assistance program in Afghanistan on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.
With an average of 90 casualties from landmine and explosive remnants of war per month, Afghanistan is one of the world’s most “mine-affected” countries. Nearly half of all casualties die trying to reach a hospital. One in every 10 adult men is a victim of a landmine or explosive remnant of war. Women and children are also victims. Landmine and explosive remnants of war contaminate 27 of the country’s 29 provinces.
Clear Path’s subcontract with DynCorp International supports program design, led by long-time CPI consultant Kristen Leadem in Kabul, and survivors assistance services at least through 2008. It is part of larger humanitarian mine-action effort sponsored by the Department of State’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.
”The intention of the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement program in Afghanistan is to complement existing efforts here and increase capacity in support of Afghanistan's national survivors assistance plan,” Leadem said.
Survivor assistance services range from medical care, physical mobility and rehabilitation to vocational training, income-generation, and sports activities. Capacity building services can include equipment, training and technical support to local hospitals, clinics and community-based rehabilitation centers.
March 19, 2008
Thai Burma Border Landmine Survivor Assistance Program Page Updated
We have updated our Thai-Burma border project page. Check it out here....
March 17, 2008
YouTube: Myanmar's Landmine Survivors at the Mae Tao Clinic
The military regime's ongoing repression in Burma (Myanmar) kills and maims hundreds of civilians each year through the use of landmines. Planted throughout ethnic territories, landmines are used to quell insurgent rebel armies, but more often kill civilians, especially children
March 10, 2008
Ministry of Defense in UK raids Landmine Removal Fund to Pay Repair Bills on Fighter Jets
Money set aside to clear landmines and remove arms from conflict zones is to be raided to pay a private defence contractor to keep Tornado jets flying in Iraq, according to a confidential memo seen by the Guardian.
February 18, 2008
CPI Aid in Thailand and Myanmar Reached Nearly 300 Landmine Survivors in 2007
With our partners, the Mae Tao Clinic, the Karen Handicap Welfare Association, KNPLF (Karenni) and the Shan Health Committee, we expect to provide services to more than 400 survivors at seven locations along the border in 2008. Groot Klimmendaal, Lobke’s employer, has been encouraging its other employees to volunteer in the area. Neeltje Rosmalen, a psychologist and cognitive trainer helped train medics and counselors in psychological treatment of new and existing accident survivors.
February 06, 2008
Red Cross says ban on cluster bombs urgent
"We need a strong, legally-binding treaty urgently, in 2008, that would ban the use, development, stockpiling and transfer of inaccurate and unreliable cluster munitions," said Herby, who heads the ICRC's Arms Unit.
January 28, 2008
The Scent of Northern Thailand: A Volunteer's Experience on the Thai-Burma Border
By paying close attention to the patients’ behaviors and by being deliberate with my facial expressions and voice tones, I strived to offer patients some physical relief, encouragement, and a sense of being cared for.
January 23, 2008
Clinton vs Obama on Cluster Bomb Legislation
Obama voted in favour of limiting use of the bombs, while Clinton and 69 other senators opposed the spending limits, defeating the proposal.
January 23, 2008
Reuters: Landmines threaten Iraqis and hamper development
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the mines were spread across about 4,000 minefields left across Iraq after the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, the first Gulf War in 1991 and the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.
