How are people injured by land mines?

Land mines are explosive devices buried underground, designed to cause injury or damage to soldiers, or to vehicles that roll over them. They are used to deny passage across terrain in times of war, but are frequently left buried for years after wars end, representing potential death for unfortunate civilians and their domestic animals.

The high-explosive charges and fragmentation sections can kill or maim in any number of ways. The shock wave can blast off extremities (arms, legs) and cause internal injuries. The fragments can cause severe or fatal wounds at some distance from the blast.

"Misplaced" or forgotten land mines kill and severely injure thousands of innocent individuals each year, but little has been done to improve controls over the use of these weapons. Many have been laid down by individuals or units who are unable to properly chart or track them, or placed indiscriminately by guerrillas and terrorists.