Landmines and other explosive remnants of war have contaminated parts of Ethiopia’s Amhara region, posing serious risks to civilians, agriculture, infrastructure, and communities trying to rebuild after years of conflict. This contamination is part of a broader problem affecting multiple regions in northern Ethiopia, including Tigray and Afar. The presence of landmines affects daily life by making farmland dangerous, blocking safe access to services, and causing injuries and deaths long after active fighting has ended. Understanding how landmine contamination affects the Amhara region helps explain the ongoing humanitarian and development challenges facing residents.
Background of Landmine Contamination in Amhara
The Amhara region has experienced significant turmoil over the past several years due to armed conflicts between federal forces, regional militias, and various armed groups. These clashes have led to widespread displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and contamination of land with landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). Although formal reporting has focused more on neighboring Tigray, contamination has also extended into parts of Amhara due to the movement of battle lines and explosive ordnance left behind. Ethiopia submitted a transparency report under the Mine Ban Convention that confirmed ongoing contamination in the Amhara region among others.
Sources of Contamination
Landmine and ERW contamination in Amhara results from multiple historical and recent conflicts. Ethiopia has faced internal and external wars dating back decades, and explosive remnants can persist in the ground for many years. Recent armed clashes that began in late 2020 expanded contamination into northern regions, including Amhara, as battle zones shifted. These explosive remnants include anti-personnel mines, rockets, mortars, grenades, and unexploded ordnance left from artillery bombardments.
Impact on Civilians and Daily Life
Landmine contamination has a profound impact on civilians living in the Amhara region. Fields that once supported food production are now dangerous, limiting agricultural activities and affecting livelihoods. Farmers risk injury or death when they attempt to till land or move livestock through contaminated fields. Children are especially at risk, as unexploded devices may look like interesting objects to play with or collect. Decontamination efforts are underway but remain slow relative to the scale of affected land.
Humanitarian Consequences
- The presence of landmines forces families to avoid fertile agricultural areas, contributing to food insecurity and economic hardship.
- Individuals injured by landmines may face lifechanging disabilities, requiring longterm medical care and rehabilitation.
- Communities are often isolated, unable to safely reach schools, markets, health centers, or water sources due to contamination.
- Fear of mines can delay the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes after conflict.
In some parts of the region, such as rural woredas near former frontlines, contaminated areas can threaten access to basic services and inhibit humanitarian assistance. Schoolchildren have been injured or killed by unexploded ordnance in schoolyards or nearby fields, making education access more dangerous. This has a longterm effect on community development and the wellbeing of future generations.
Efforts to Address Contamination
Both national authorities and international partners are working to address landmine contamination in Amhara and surrounding regions. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has been deployed to conduct risk assessments and coordinate clearing operations in suspected contaminated zones. These activities include marking dangerous areas, removing explosive remnants, and training local personnel in risk education and disposal techniques.
Demining and Risk Education
Mine action efforts involve several key components intended to reduce civilian risk and restore safe land use
- Survey and MappingIdentifying suspected hazardous areas through surveys and creating accurate maps of contamination.
- Marking and FencingClearly marking areas known to contain landmines or ERW to prevent accidental entry and injury.
- Clearance OperationsDeploying trained deminers to remove mines and unexploded ordnance from the ground.
- Risk EducationEducating local populations on the dangers of explosive remnants and how to recognize and avoid them.
Training local deminers and community focal points increases the longterm capacity of the region to respond to contamination. Risk education campaigns target children and adults alike, teaching safe behavior to reduce accidents and loss of life. Clearance work is dangerous and requires specialized training and equipment, which slows progress but ultimately makes land safer for farming and movement.
Challenges in Clearing Landmines
Despite active demining efforts, several challenges complicate the clearing process in the Amhara region. The scale of contamination is large, with numerous devices buried across rural and remote landscapes. Clearing requires time, expertise, and funding, and local authorities often must balance this work with ongoing humanitarian needs like food security, healthcare, and support for displaced families. Continued instability in some areas can also hinder demining efforts and put deminers at risk.
Environmental and Economic Barriers
Amhara’s terrain includes a mix of farmland, hills, and remote areas, making accessibility difficult for demining teams. The region’s limited infrastructure, with many rural roads unpaved or damaged by conflict, slows the transport of equipment and personnel. Economic constraints further limit how quickly clearance can occur, as funding must be secured from international donors or government budgets stretched by competing demands for services and reconstruction.
LongTerm Implications for Development
The presence of landmines in the Amhara region affects economic development and humanitarian recovery well beyond the immediate danger to life. Contaminated land cannot be used for agriculture or settlement until it is declared safe, which reduces available land for food production and housing. This can slow economic recovery after conflict and contribute to food insecurity. In addition, fear of unexploded ordnance may deter investment in the region or delay reconstruction of infrastructure like roads, health clinics, and schools.
Community Resilience and Recovery
Despite these challenges, local communities demonstrate resilience. Residents often work with humanitarian organizations to report suspicious objects and avoid dangerous areas. Volunteers sometimes assist with risk education outreach, helping to protect neighbors and children. Over time, as more land is cleared and risk awareness increases, communities can begin to safely rebuild homes, farms, and local markets.
Landmine contamination in the Amhara region is a serious legacy of conflict, affecting civilians’ safety, agriculture, and longterm recovery. The presence of explosive remnants of war makes daily life hazardous and limits economic opportunities in affected areas. Efforts by UNMAS, national authorities, and local communities aim to survey, clear, and educate residents about the dangers. However, the scale of contamination and resource constraints mean that risk remains for some time. Continued focus on demining, risk education, and support for affected communities is essential to restore safety and allow the people of Amhara to rebuild their lives and livelihoods after conflict.