Sami Abadah, chemist and President of the Landmine Struggle Center in Egypt, states that explosions cause severe injuries to victims who trample on landmines. Injuries, aggravated by the deep permeation of shrapnel, result in death or the loss of one of the senses or extremities. Landmine explosions normally tear off the victim’s foot and the lower part of the leg. The injury is seldom limited to one leg; more often, it affects to a lesser degree the other leg, genitals, arms, chest and face.

The explosion causes dirt, mud and soil to permeate the body. There are landmines known as bounding or jumping mines, which “jump” up into the air before they explode. The explosion, shrapnel and metal pellets kill individuals within the mine's lethal range and severely injure those in its peripheral area.

Surgeons remove all dead or severely damaged tissue as well as shrapnel and dirt. This task, easy in theory, is extremely complicated. When the lower part of the leg is severed in the explosion, the shrapnel deeply penetrates the upper part. This calls for the amputation of the leg at a higher level than that normally considered by less experienced surgeons. Incorrect methods of amputation result in unnecessary suffering; the victim requires several operations, and fitting an artificial limb becomes difficult.

With the unavailability of physiotherapists and replacement limbs, the leg is amputated and victims are destined for permanent disability, which hinders their ability to lead an independent life. If both legs are amputated, victims normally require a wheel chair.

Abadah has been urging authorities to properly mark the perimeters of mined areas in addition to planting trees and setting up fences around these areas in order to prevent the mines from shifting to populated regions. A major problem is that as a result of strong winds, floods and shifting sand dunes, mines have been advancing from minefields to bordering areas, such as Sidi Barrani, Burj Al-Arab and Al-Kharijah Oases.

Landmines do not only endanger peoples’ lives but also adversely affect natural resources and the environment. Muhammad Basyuni, General Director of the Egyptian Landmine Struggle Center, says that landmines prevent Egyptians from benefiting from heavy rainfall in the El-Alameein area. This rainfall, which reaches flood levels throughout November and December, is estimated to average between 150 and 250 cubic mm/ year.

Landmine threats also prevent the use of potable underground water resources and the cultivation of fertile land that, according to UN estimates, has an area of more than 850,000 acres. Rushdie Saeed, an international geological expert, estimates that landmines in Egypt actually hold hostage two million acres of arable land that could be cultivated, using rain and underground water for irrigation. This means that landmines are depriving Egyptians from cultivating an additional 15 – 30 per cent of the currently cultivated area in Egypt.

Basyuni stresses that not cultivating the El-Alamein area, which the Roman Empire relied on for its fruits and vegetables, is considered a waste of natural resources and a violation of international environmental treaties, which call for the cultivation of arable land in order to achieve sustainable development and maintain life on earth.

According to the latest study conducted by the University of Alexandria, the El-Alamein area is fraught with more than 430 plants and herbs, some of which are internationally rare. Serious threats face tens of reptiles, insects, and wild animal species, including some endangered species that are protected under international treaties. This area is also rich in minerals: it has oil, copper, phosphate, silver and gold in large deposits, which lessen the mining costs.

The mine threats also prevent the establishment of several industrial, residential and tourism projects. The El-Alamein area is characterized by mild weather throughout the year, which is ideal for tourism and related industries. Mine threats have also put a stop to the Qattara Depression power generation project, which could have supplied electrical power 4 to 5 times the capacity of the Aswan High Dam.

Basyuni notes that it is difficult to estimate the economic loss caused by the presence of the mines, as it is hard to put a figure on lost development opportunities and what they could have provided in terms of job opportunities at a time when Egyptian graduates suffer from high unemployment rates. According to the United Nations, the cost of clearing one landmine ranges between $300 to $1,000 US. International experts estimate that the Egyptian government needs at least five to six billion dollars to accomplish the task of demining Egyptian land. The Third Document of the Geneva Convention (Articles 27 to 32) states that governments of both victorious and defeated nations are responsible for clearing the battlefield, protecting civilians and natural resources and removing the debris of war. Thus the question remains: “Who will shoulder the burden of the mine clearance bill?”