Article 14 furthermore states that objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as water and agricultural areas, shall not be the subject of attack, destruction, removal or being rendered useless. Minefields currently render inaccessible many water sources and arable land desperately needed by people in war afflicted regions. An example of the impact of mines in this way is in Cambodia, where there are between eight and 10 million unexploded landmines. It is also a custom of international law, born out by the evolution of state practice and the codification of these recognised rules over time, that there are limitations to the means and methods of warfare, and that it is prohibited to employ weapons or methods of warfare of a nature to cause unnecessary losses or excessive suffering. It is furthermore prohibited to make the civilian population or civilian persons the object of military attack.
Attacks are to be directed solely against military objectives.
These rules apply to all states because they are customary laws and not dependant upon the ratification by states of multilateral treaties. These general rules are backed up by Protocol II of the 1980 UN Convention. However, even with tighter restrictions on the use and transfer of AP landmines agreed to in May, the continuing deaths and maiming are not likely to substantially decrease, and not at all in the short to medium term. The restrictions agreed to by member states in Geneva in May will not put a stop to the perpetuation of production and laying of landmines. They displace populations and create demographic pressures that destabilize neighboring regions.