Farms have been decollectivised, but farmers and their families still step on mines while gathering firewood.

ECONOMIST: Mozambique

And though Mr Karzai needs the Americans, anti-Americanism in Afghanistan feels as if it is at an all-time high, after a botched air raid killed nine boys gathering firewood.

ECONOMIST: Attempting both to leave by 2014 and stay perhaps for ever

Even when the fighting stopped, simply going to school or gathering firewood for cooking was a potentially life-threatening activity in many areas: landmines and unexploded bombs caused over 340 casualties in the first six months after the fighting ended, and all in an area half the size of Wales.

ECONOMIST: Cleaning up the mess