A buffer zone is not limited to a land area between countries or forces within a country. It can be any area that separates two communities or populations. The UN has historically declared buffer zones around the world, and they are also used around prisons and industrial areas for safety reasons.
The term “buffer zone” is often used to refer to an area between two countries or two hostile forces within the same country. In reality, a buffer zone is not limited in its description to a land area between countries or even between forces within a country. Any area that serves to keep two areas, communities, or even populations separate can be considered a buffer zone.
In areas of the world where there has traditionally been conflict, whether between warring nations or between warring factions within a nation, the term “buffer zone” has often been used to describe the land mass or terrain that keeps the warring parties apart. In some cases, the buffer zone may be a fully sovereign state or country. In others, it may simply be a small area of neutral territory between the parties.
The United Nations has historically declared buffer zones, or demilitarized zones, around the world. The Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus, for example, has been the site of a United Nations-declared buffer zone, or Green Line, that has divided the island since Turkey’s invasion of the small island nation. Weapons are not permitted in the buffer zone, which is considered a de facto border between the official nation of Cyprus and the unofficial Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
While most often associated with areas of conflict, a buffer zone can also be used to describe the area surrounding a prison or other penal institution. The need to create space between incarcerated inmates and residential or commercial areas is essential to maintaining security. In the unlikely event that a prisoner escapes, the buffer zone makes it less likely that the prisoner will enter into contracts with innocent citizens. The uninhabited area also makes it more likely that law enforcement will be able to track down and eventually recapture the fugitive, before he is able to blend back into the general population.
Industrial areas or areas where hazardous or hazardous chemicals are used or manufactured also create the need for a buffer zone. Often, industrial production creates toxic byproducts that must be kept away from residential or commercial areas. Additionally, some types of installations, such as a nuclear reactor, have inherent risks associated with their use and, therefore, must be kept a safe distance from densely populated areas in the unlikely event of a malfunction, explosion, or other disaster.
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