The limped Afghanistan - A limped society

There are many incidents, occasions and surprises in a country like Afghanistan. Naturally curious childre like to pick up strange objects, such as toy like butterfly mines that Soviet forces plant by millions all over Afghanistan. Beside all misstreatments against children and women, torture and all vilolences landmines representing, ”an insidious and persistent danger" to children and others affected by a war without an end. Endless because of the country geo political situation and that the United States declared the global war of terrorism with Afghanistan as the central part in Central asia.

    

Landmines is a serious problem in Afghanistan and children are particularly vulnerable to them in a number of ways. A first question is why did the Soviet planted them all over the country at all, and secondly who is responsible for all human damages that has resulted?

     Children in Afghanistan are as often too young and illiterate, and signs telling them of the presence of mines are useless. Also, children are far more likely to die from their mine injuries than adults. Of those children who survive, few will receive prostheses that keep up with the continued growth of their stunted limbs, and they are for ever restricted to their future. They will be depended to help the rest of their lives.

      There is a big need physical rehabilitation programmes and a mine clearance, something that the Russian society should urge to participate in as the planter. Above all, we should push for enact immediate legislation banning the production as we do with chemical weapins including the use, trade and stockpiling of land-mines. A support of a worldwide campaign on ban of this should be supported from all.

"Land-mines” are uniquely savage in the history of modern conventional warfare not only because of their appalling individual impact, but also their long-term social and economic destruction. Afghanistan is only one among least 68 countries threatened todays children and future.

     Over 110 million land-mines of various types, millions more unexploded bombs, shells and grenades, remain today hidden around the world, waiting to be triggered by the innocent and unsuspecting landmines pose particular dangers for children.    Naturally curious children are likely to pick up strange objects, such as the infamous toy-like ”butterfly” mines that Soviet forces spread by the millions in Afghanistan. They, who manage to survive explosions are likely to be more seriously injured than adults, and often permanently disabled. Even if a child's bones grow faster, a wound may require repeated amputation and a new artificial limb as often as every six months. Although the prosthesis is not likely to be available, otherd demands for medical services also mean that children injured by mines seldom receive the care they deserve.

     Land-mines destruction of Afghanistans children also strike at a war-torn country's reconstruction and development. Mining of agricultural land has led to malnutrition, famine and starvation. Mines laid along roads and tracks prevent the safe repatriation of refugees and impede the delivery of aid. "Clearing a field of mines gives life back to a local community, it gives people the chance to grow their own crops rather than rely on international assistance, it restores human dignity and promotes human security. Protecting children from these deadly threats, land mines, calls for a najor commitment to large scale mine clearance and the development of programme for mine awareness and physical rehabilitation, no matter what it should be a main question for a country who planted them. Russia should offer more help for the afghan people as they are the ground of this damage. Afghanistan has not the ability, nor the knowldge of mine clearance it is dependant on the international community. Mine removal is a lengthy and expensive business. Weapons that cost as little as $3 each to manufacture can cost up to $1,000 to remove. Land-mines can be blithely spread at rates of over 1,000 per minute, but it may take a skilled expert an entire day just to clear by hand 20-50 square metres of mine-contaminated land.

Time is going very slow, first organized de-mining operation by UN began in Afghanistan in 1990 with a single 24-man local team, today, more than 20 year later it has 3,000 Afghan de-miners on 48 clearance crews, along with 16 mine awareness teams. This is not enough, each day children women and men including international soldiers are victims of these planted landmines by Soviet. Is it not a normal requirement to Russia and Mr Putin that they are mor helpful for clearance of their own landmines? Is their no recognation of the problem from Mr Putin for all limped children, destroying their future by loosing arms, legns, eyes etc….

    But there are not only local people suffering from the war and the landmines, on example is the bravery war photographer ”Giles Duley” who lost three limps after stepping on a landmine in Afghanistan. Bu the did retur nto the country to document plight of wounded locals. In his own words it meant,

”For me documentary photography has always come with great responsibility. Not just to tell the story honestly and with empathy, but also to make sure the right people hear it. When you photograph somebody who is in pain or discomfort, they trust you to make sure the images will act as their advocate. 'Of all the stories I’ve documented, the recent work on civilian casualties in Afghanistan and the impact of landmines has felt the most important. Many of those I photographed said to me, "when you get home, show your ministers what is happening here". That has always been my ultimate goal.

'This is the first time I’ve really felt like I’ve fully completed my task as a photographer. I hope those that have trusted me with their stories will feel the same.'

Pictures and his story among others make giv eus eample of danger and importance of the present situation in Afghanistan. The solution is not the gunpower, it is rather help changing te country old pattern with social, financial and education.