But that changed by the Vietnam war. and since then the overwhelming majority of mines have been used as offensive weapons against civilians. scattered indiscriminately by the millions. Cheap to buy. easy to make and transport. mines have become a weapon of choice of Third World armies and insurgent groups. Their purpose is not just to maim and kill. but to destroy the social and economic fabric of a society by isolating whole communities. depopulating vast areas of territory. and preventing the return of refugees. In dozens of countries where people survive by growing their own food. huge areas of scarce arable land have become useless death traps from landmines. Mr.
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refugees