IT'S A sound that can make even the toughest of soldiers break into a cold sweat and cry out for their mother.
It's a sound that evokes fear in every single person within hearing range. The "clicking" sound that one hears in a war movie, when someone makes a wrong move and finds themselves stepping on a land mine.
Land mines were designed to create a tactical barrier to protect a unit's flanks, slowdown forces, and basically stop them from advancing into a certain area.
The United Nations Children's Fund, says there are still an estimated 110 million land mines, in war-torn countries, worldwide.
This includes areas where there is military unrest and the potential for war is high. Land mines claim 800 lives every month.
Egypt is said to be the most heavily mined country, with an estimated 23 million still to be unearthed.
Getting rid of a mine is easy but finding someone brave enough to do it is another story altogether.
There are two types of de-miners, humanitarian and military.
Both perform the same duties, which is mine detection and removal.
Military de-miners are known as military combat engineers and do tasks referred to as mine clearance.
They are sent ahead of troops to create a safe passage as troops trying to breach a minefield may be under enemy fire.
Humanitarian de-mining is known as battle area clearance and is a more thorough and time-intensive mine detection and clearance method. This is done in carried out in post-war areas so that the land can be safe for normal use.
In most cases, land mine clearance is a necessary prerequisite before other humanitarian programmes can be implemented.
The current method used for clearing mines is by using metal detectors, prodders, trained dogs and heavily armoured vehicles equipped with flails (rotating chains that dig up mines and detonate them).
De-miners are given personal protective equipment (PPE) such as armoured gloves, visors, helmets, vests and boots, which look almost alien, but decrease the risk of stepping on a mine.
The PPE is designed to withstand blasts from an anti-personnel mine, but anti-tank mines may be too powerful for current equipment.
The price of a land mine is between R20 and R140. The price of removing it is from R2000 to R6800. Getting a rat to do the job: Priceless. - sacareerfocus
Few people keen on doing the work
IT'S A sound that can make even the toughest of soldiers break into a cold sweat and cry out for their mother.
It's a sound that evokes fear in every single person within hearing range. The "clicking" sound that one hears in a war movie, when someone makes a wrong move and finds themselves stepping on a land mine.
Land mines were designed to create a tactical barrier to protect a unit's flanks, slowdown forces, and basically stop them from advancing into a certain area.
The United Nations Children's Fund, says there are still an estimated 110 million land mines, in war-torn countries, worldwide.
This includes areas where there is military unrest and the potential for war is high. Land mines claim 800 lives every month.
Egypt is said to be the most heavily mined country, with an estimated 23 million still to be unearthed.
Getting rid of a mine is easy but finding someone brave enough to do it is another story altogether.
There are two types of de-miners, humanitarian and military.
Both perform the same duties, which is mine detection and removal.
Military de-miners are known as military combat engineers and do tasks referred to as mine clearance.
They are sent ahead of troops to create a safe passage as troops trying to breach a minefield may be under enemy fire.
Humanitarian de-mining is known as battle area clearance and is a more thorough and time-intensive mine detection and clearance method. This is done in carried out in post-war areas so that the land can be safe for normal use.
In most cases, land mine clearance is a necessary prerequisite before other humanitarian programmes can be implemented.
The current method used for clearing mines is by using metal detectors, prodders, trained dogs and heavily armoured vehicles equipped with flails (rotating chains that dig up mines and detonate them).
De-miners are given personal protective equipment (PPE) such as armoured gloves, visors, helmets, vests and boots, which look almost alien, but decrease the risk of stepping on a mine.
The PPE is designed to withstand blasts from an anti-personnel mine, but anti-tank mines may be too powerful for current equipment.
The price of a land mine is between R20 and R140. The price of removing it is from R2000 to R6800. Getting a rat to do the job: Priceless. - sacareerfocus
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos