Falkland Islands/Malvinas

Landmine/ERW Problem

The 1982 armed conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom resulted in many thousands of antipersonnel and antivehicle mines being laid on the Falkland Islands/Malvinas, most by Argentina. There is also unexploded ordnance (UXO), including two areas containing (cluster) submunitions. The precise extent of UXO contamination is not known. In its April 2007 Article 7 report, the UK also noted the presence of booby-traps.

The UK has reported that 117 mined areas remain, covering a total area of some 13km²—a significant reduction from previous estimates of 20km²—and contain “just over” 20,000 mines.^[1] Moreover, this reduced estimate includes four suspected hazardous areas amounting to almost 5.8km², which “probably have no mines but there are still suspicions.”^[2] The mined areas are mainly beaches and peat areas. Three minefields are said to be within one mile of the capital, Port Stanley. When depositing its initial Article 7 report in August 1999, the UK included minefield maps for the Falkland Islands/Malvinas.^[3]

Minefields are said to be surrounded by a three-strand fence and marked with danger signs at regular intervals around the perimeter, in addition to the NATO standard mine warning triangles. No human casualties from mines or UXO have been reported in the Falkland Islands/Malvinas since 1984. The UK has reported that six military personnel were injured in 1982 and a further two injured in 1983. Most military accidents took place while clearing/lifting the minefields in the immediate aftermath of the 1982 conflict or in the process of trying to establish the extent of the minefield perimeters, particularly where no detailed records existed.