Landmine explosion claims seven MSF workers

Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF) on Monday said it would temporarily reduce its activities in the southeastern Angolan region of Mavinga following a landmine explosion at the weekend which killed seven people and left six others wounded.

The NGO said in a statement that the MSF vehicle involved in the incident was travelling from Cunjamba, north of Mavinga, where medical staff had spent the day carrying out vaccination programmes. Most of the victims were Angolans working in the vaccination team.

According to the United Nations, Angola is one of most heavily mined countries in the world. Estimates for the number of landmines range from six to 20 million resulting in one of the highest rates of landmine injuries per capita in the world.

"We are shocked, frustrated and extremely sad. The staff killed in this accident was providing a glimpse of humanity after years of suffering in Angola, sadly they are victims of their commitment. Why?" Thomas Nierle Director of MSF operations in Geneva said in a statement.

Since the 4 April ceasefire between the government and former rebel group UNITA, NGOs and aid agencies appealed to the government to speed up demining activities.

They have complained that derelict roads and landmines continue to restrict the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance.

MSF said a second anti-tank mine was discovered nearby immediately after the incident.

Some 70,000 Angolans are believed to have lost limbs as a result of landmine explosions.