James Madison University JMU Scholarly Commons Center for International Stabilization and Global CWD Repository Recovery 11-2006 Departure of the Devil: Landmines and Livelihoods in Yemen Yemen Executive Mine Action Centre YEMEC Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-globalcwd Part of the Defense and Security Studies Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons, Public Policy Commons, and the Social Policy Commons Recommended Citation Centre, Yemen Executive Mine Action and , "Departure of the Devil: Landmines and Livelihoods in Yemen" (2006). Global CWD Repository. 183. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-globalcwd/183 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Global CWD Repository by an authorized administrator of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Departure of the Devil: Landmines and Livelihoods in Yemen Volume 1: Main Report On behalf of the Yemen Executive Mine Action Centre Geneva, November 2006 The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) supports the efforts of the international community in reducing the impact of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). The Centre provides operational assistance, is active in research and supports the implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining 7bis, avenue de la Paix P.O. Box 1300 CH-1211 Geneva 1 Switzerland Tel. (41 22) 906 16 60 Fax (41 22) 906 16 90 www.gichd.org [email protected] This project was managed by Ted Paterson, GICHD ([email protected]). © Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining The views expressed in this publication are those of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area, or of its authorities or armed groups, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Authors Barry Pound1, Adrienne Martin1, Dr Abdul Qadr2 and Dr Abdul Wahed Mukred3 1 The Natural Resources Institute, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, UK [email protected] and [email protected] 2 Yemeni Centre for Studies and Research, Sana’a [email protected] 3 Vice Chairman, Agricultural Research Authority, Dhamar [email protected] Acknowledgements Our thanks to Mansour Al-Azi, Faiz Mohammad and Ted Paterson for arranging this consultancy, particularly to Faiz for his detailed planning and support and to Ted for his constructive comments on drafts of the report and for the cost:benefit analysis. Barry and Adrienne would like to express their great thanks to the women and men on the survey team who worked so hard and cheerfully and were such good company throughout the visit. Our thanks also to the villagers in all 25 surveyed locations, who accepted us into their communities and shared their experiences and ideas with us. THE SURVEY TEAM Back row: Ahmed Khaled Al Oudayni, Adel Said, Dr Abdul Qadr, Adel Qasim Ahmed Kayed, Madyan Mohammed Obed Gharama, Mohammed Amrani, Barry Pound Front Row: Hassan Salem Saa’el, Adrienne Martin, Ghada Mohammed Alwadee, Samiyra Mohammed Hassan, Ferdous Sharaf Al Mutaw Acronyms CTA Chief Technical Adviser DFID Department for International Development (UK) ERW Explosive Remnants of War FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United National GICHD Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining GoY Government of Yemen IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development LIS Landmine Impact Survey MAAC Mine Awareness Advisory Committee M&E Monitoring and Evaluation NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NMAC National Mine Action Committee NRI Natural Resources Institute SFD Social Fund for Development ToR Terms of Reference UK United Kingdom UNDP United Nations Development Programme UXO Unexploded Ordnance VMAC Victim Assistance Advisory Committee YEMAC Yemen Executive Mine Action Committee YLSA Yemen Landmine and UXO Survivors Association YR Yemeni Riyal Currency $ = US dollars. $1= approximately 200 Yemeni Riyals (YR) Glossary of Local Terms awkaf Charitable endowment of property for the benefit, in perpetuity, of a religious or charitable cause. girba Terrace hema Meaning "reserve" or "preserve"; an indigenous conservation system under customary law in which tribal clans managed and protected rangelands and designated areas for rotational grazing kadah Volumetric measure equal to approximately 24kg. (8 containers of 20cm diameter x 25cm height). libna Measure of land area, approximately 44m2 qat The shrub, Catha edulis, the young leaves of which are chewed to produce a stimulant effect. Qat chewing is an important social activity in the afternoon uzla Administrative unit at the level of a sub district, covering several villages Table of Contents Volume I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ACRONYMS GLOSSARY Executive Summary......................................................................................................i Introduction.................................................................................................................i Approach....................................................................................................................ii Methods......................................................................................................................ii Findings of the survey...............................................................................................iv Impact of demining on communities ........................................................................iv Development opportunities for demined communities.............................................ix Considerations for YEMAC .....................................................................................xi Introduction .................................................................................................................1 Objectives of the Consultancy ...................................................................................3 Framework and Approach..........................................................................................3 Methods......................................................................................................................6 Village Sample...........................................................................................................8 Presentation of the findings of the Study.................................................................10 A. Assessment of the Socio-Economic returns from mine clearance investments ......................................................................................................................................15 A.1. Safety and awareness ...................................................................................15 A.2. Assets affected by mine clearance ...............................................................18 A.3. Support to survivors.....................................................................................31 A.4. Gender roles and exposure to mine risks .....................................................34 A.5. Women’s perceptions of impacts of demining ............................................37 A.6. Children and the impacts of demining.........................................................44 A.7. Conclusions and recommendations..............................................................47 B. Preliminary assessment of complementary development initiatives for surveyed villages and requirements for support.....................................................51 B.1. Factors affecting the potential for successful development in landmine affected communities...............................................................................................51 B.2. Development opportunities for the cleared land..........................................53 B.3. Opportunities for the whole community......................................................56 B.4. Women’s discussion of development opportunities and priorities..............59 B.5. Conclusions and recommendations..............................................................62 C. Enhancement of the capacity of YEMAC to conduct future assessments of socioeconomic benefits from mine action ................................................................64 C.1. Photo record of methods used in the survey ................................................64 C.2. Conclusions and Recommendations on survey methods.............................67 D. Assessment of community landmine impact scores as a tool for identifying impact and determining priorities for action ..........................................................69 D.1 Landmine impact score methodology and assumptions ..............................69 D.2 Relationship of village scores in LIS to actual post clearance impacts .......70 D.3 Comments on the tools for landmine impact scoring ..................................71 D.4 Recommendations for landmine impact survey methods ............................71 E. Advice on enhancements to YEMAC’s processes for survey, clearance, awareness/education and survivor support and advocacy, and for their M&E system..........................................................................................................................75