5 Pillars of Mine Action: Stockpile Destruction

Stockpiled landmines outnumber those actually laid in the ground. In accordance with Article 4 of the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention, State Parties must destroy their stockpiled mines within four years after their accession to the Convention. Ninety-four States Parties have now completed destruction of their stockpiles of antipersonnel mines, destroying a combined total of more than 55 million antipersonnel mines. Other sixty-seven States Parties have confirmed that they never possessed antipersonnel mines, except for training purposes.

UNMAS provides technical support to aid in the destruction of stockpiled explosive hazards. Inadequately managed conventional ammunition stockpiles threaten public safety and pose a risk to the security of States. UNMAS also assists in proper storage and inspection. These projects are commonly known as weapons and ammunition management (WAM).