The Explosive Weapons Trauma Care Collective

the Explosive weapons trauma care collective (extracct)

EXTRACCT is a multisectoral initiative established to enhance coordination between humanitarian mine action and trauma systems strengthening for civilian casualties of explosive weapons.

We aim to reduce preventable death and disability among civilian explosive weapon casualties by facilitating strategic cooperation between humanitarian mine action and health stakeholders in conflict and post-conflict settings.

EXTRACCT began in 2021 as “The Mine Action Trauma Care Collaborative,” an exploratory dialogue between researchers at the University of Washington and the United Nations mine Action Service (UNMAS) to address the unacceptably high case fatality rate (nearly 40%) among civilian victims of explosive ordnance. In acknowledgment of the impact of other types of explosive weapons including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPAs) on civilians in conflict, the Mine Action Trauma Care Collaborative became the Explosive Weapons Trauma Care Collective. EXTRACCT has evolved into a consortium of academics, trauma surgeons, and humanitarian practitioners leveraging innovative, multisectoral partnerships to define high-value opportunities for enhanced engagement between humanitarian mine action stakeholders and trauma care providers in settings affected by explosive weapons.

At a time when indiscriminate use of explosive weapons disproportionately affects civilians in conflicts globally, cooperation spearheaded by EXTRACCT has the potential to significantly reduce unnecessary suffering.