Deaths from UXO “on the rise” says MSF

Deaths from unexploded ordnance (UXO) are on the rise in Chad according to Karline Kleijer, head of programmes for Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), speaking to IRIN the day after seven people were killed and up to 17 wounded when a bomb exploded in N’djamena’s main market on 4 August in the second incident involving unexploded ordnance (UXO) in two days.

“We do not have any exact data, but deaths appear to be on the rise - in 2007 there were fewer UXO deaths. We can assume that in all the places where there has been intensive fighting this year, including the June battles [between rebels and government soldiers in eastern Chad] there must be left-over shells or unexploded ordinance of some kind,” Kleijer told IRIN.

UXO can include ammunition, grenades, bombs and other explosives which were fired but failed to detonate.

Excluding the N’djamena incident, according to MSF’s records only referring to its project locations, 10 UXO device have exploded over the past three months, killing up to 14 people, most of them children.

Three children from a displaced persons’ camp were wounded on 3 August when a UXO exploded near the Goz Beida airstrip in eastern Chad.

The victims of the 4 August market attack were mainly customers, passers-by and stall-holders who at the time of the explosion were busy repairing their market stalls damaged by floods from heavy rains the day before, according to observers on the scene.

The government communications minister said the market had been the site of clashes between government forces and rebels in February 2008 when rebels tried to take over the capital, and he blamed the rebel fighters for the episode. An investigation is currently underway to try to establish where the device came from.

Tensions were high at the national general reference hospital (HGRN) where some of the victims were taken when parents of the wounded children were barred entry because of high security.

Children are particularly at risk from UXO as they often pick them up to play with them thinking they are toys. “They look like strange, colourful objects… children here normally play with rocks and sticks, so these look more interesting,” Kleijer said.

MSF treats many explosion victims in its clinics and non-governmental organisations such as Mines Action Canada (MAC) operating in Chad are working to detonate UXOs and spread awareness of their dangers but according to Kleijer, “this work needs to be scaled up.” Alongside this, she urged more organisations to make it clear to people what they should do when they come across UXOs.

“Even if people know UXOs are dangerous, they do not necessarily do anything about it. They must understand they have to report it, the area needs to be cleared and the device detonated,” she stressed.

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