New Delhi, Nov 5 (IANS) More than 30 years since the massive defoliation campaigns of the Vietnam war, and nearly 20 years since the extensive pollution caused by the destruction of 600 oil wells in Kuwait at the end of the first Gulf War, the environment continues to fall victim to armed conflict worldwide.

Decades of protracted conflict in the Gaza Strip, for example, have so severely affected groundwater supplies upon which 1.5 million Palestinians depend for drinking and agriculture that those supplies are in danger of imminent collapse.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pointed this out on the eve of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.

In at least 18 conflicts since 1990, natural resources have played a significant role. In Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, diamonds, timber and gold have been exploited by armed groups to finance and prolong conflicts. The consequences for the environment and development have been devastating.

While the environment and natural resources enjoy protection under several important international legal instruments — such as the Geneva Conventions — the implementation and enforcement of these instruments remain very weak, Ban said in a statement.

There are few international mechanisms to monitor infringements or address claims for environmental damage sustained during warfare. The UN chief called on countries to save environment and prosecute environmental violations during armed conflict, and to pass laws for this purpose.