Landmines destroy not just lives, but livelihoods. Even after armed conflict has stopped, landmine contamination kills and maims innocent people, obstructs emergency assistance, and hampers economic and social development. The removal of landmines is often essential to restart development and rebuild shattered communities, and the lingering threat to physical and human capital makes their removal a priority for humanitarian and development agencies alike. Since the end of the Balkan crisis, financial support for landmine clearance has been a growing activity for the World Bank and an important component of its evolving agenda on conflict and development. However, because landmine clearance is expensive and involves complex political and security issues, it requires special attention and approaches.
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