Countless land mines laid in several parts of the world have proved a threat no less menacing than weapons of mass destruction to human beings, animals and environment. According to a recent estimate, over 110 million mines threaten the lives of civilians in 86 countries the world over.
Over 20 percent of the total number of mines are feared to be in Egypt. In the north western Egypt alone there are an estimated 22.7 million mines. With 17 million mines, Alamein where Rommel and Montgomery fought in World War II is the worst affected area in Egypt. The mines pose a threat to 20 percent of the Egyptian population. This is not all. The mines have rendered 2.5 million acres of fertile land in Alamein unusable.
Removing a mine is estimated to cost $ 200 to $ 300; it needs only $3 to lay one.
It is believed that the Axis powers as well as the Allies laid more than 20 million mines during the desert campaign in World War II in which Egypt was not a combatant. Egypt was under the military occupation of Britain at the time. Britain, Germany and Italy were responsible for this reprehensible act.
In the past three years Egypt has been trying to clear mines in the Alamein area. A specially trained army wing has removed 11 million mines.
Egypt has also been attempting to convince the countries concerned — Britain, German and Italy — of their responsibility in clearing the area. These countries have rejected the Egyptian demand that they make available the maps showing where the mines are lying. The maps, they argue, are part of military secrets and as such can’t be handed over. Egypt was also denied the required financial help from the special UN fund for mine-clearance.
Now the pressing question is what Egypt should do to clear the area of mines. An option is to file a lawsuit against the countries responsible. The international agreements such as the resolutions of the UN General Assembly in 1996, recommendations of the conferences held in Vienna, Oslo and Ottawa in 1997 give Egypt or any affected party the right to seek legal redress.
But Egypt wants to settle the problem using diplomatic channels.
In an encouraging sign, Germany has declared a willingness to cooperate fully with Egypt. Speaking on the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Alamein, an official spokesman of the German Embassy in Cairo said his country “is keen to cooperate with Egypt in this matter. Germany has in fact sent 110 mine clearing devices as well as some maps to help Egypt.”
The dependents of 3,000 Egyptians who were killed or maimed in mine blasts have a right to demand compensation from the countries which laid the mines.
It is also Egypt’s right to tell these countries: “You made our land a theater of operation even though we were not a party to the conflict leading to World War II. You plundered our valuable resources. All that you left behind are these unexploded mines endangering our people’s lives and hindering our economic development.”
Arab News Opinion 25 November 2002
