Landmines a growing concern in Pakistan

A suicide bomber rammed his car into a police station in northwest Pakistan today, killing at least 19 people in a new wave of attacks by al Qaeda- and Taliban-linked militants, the latest in a series of bombings over the past week which have left over 100 people dead.

The recent bombings ended a relative lull in militant violence over the past month and put pressure on a government struggling with devastating floods that have made millions homeless and hammered the economy.

One of the unexpected difficulties caused by the flooding is the danger of mines and unexploded ordinance being carried by floodwaters, a danger that has so far caused 11 casualties in four reported incidents.

The spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Pakistan, Jessica Barry, told Vatican Radio landmines are being found in areas where they have never been seen before.

“It’s extremely important that people be made aware of the dangers,” she said. “There have not been a terrible number of accidents yet, but the risk is there.”

Barry says the ICRC is putting out radio announcements to help warn the population of the dangers.