Methodology for the prioritization of action against antipersonnel mines from the integral risk management approach

Abstract

This study aims to support the decision-making in the prioritization, targeting and attention of the territories and population affected by anti-personnel mines; lead by the Directorate of Integral Action against Antipersonnel Mines, from a  integral risk management approach. Risk, understood as the confluence of people at sites contaminated by antipersonnel mines (MAP) or unexploded ordnance (MUSE), is a result of the battle  between threat and vulnerability.

In order to calculate the magnitude of the vulnerability, a few variables were taken into account. These, associated with population location and concentration (density of residence constructions, educational establishments, roads and the stratification based on the vegetation cover).  The threat to the population is determined by the presence of Antipersonnel Mines or unexploded ordnances. Also, because most fields are being used to cultivate coca or are part of the eradication process. Furthermore, in many fields, there’s evidence of alluvial gold exploitation. In order to perform the calculations and the spatial analysis, an area of 1-km2 was used.

As a result, a layer with the national coverage in 1km2 grids, is obtained from the vulnerability, threat and risk from the presence of Antipersonnel Mines. In Colombia, there is a total of 106,734 km2 in some risk level by contamination of Antipersonnel Mines and unexploded ones.  The departments with greater amount of area with some risk are Caquetá, Meta, Nariño, Putumayo, Guaviare and Antioquia. The highest concentration of very high and eminent risk is found in Antioquia, Cauca and Putumayo.