What is an anti-personnel mine?

A mine is a munition designed to be placed under, on or near the ground or other surface area and to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons. A mine can remain active for decades after it has been laid. Therefore, even long after a conflict has ended, mines continue to injure and kill posing a major threat to the safety of the population.

What types of anti-personnel mines exist?

Blast mines

buried in the ground, detonate when someone steps on them.

Directional fragmentation mines

are designed to be positioned in the direction the enemy is likely to advance from. This mine can be victim activated by a tripwire or command detonated. Once triggered, it projects metal fragments in a specific direction.

Bounding fragmentation mines

buried in the ground and triggered by either a tripwire or by stepping on them. Once triggered, they jump into the air and detonate, spreading metal fragments in a 360-degree arc.

Fragmentation mines

hidden above ground in vegetation and triggered by a tripwire. It spreads metal fragments in a 360-degree arc.