ICRC lorry hits landmine

A lorry operated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) detonated an anti-tank landmine near the embattled Angolan central highlands capital of Huambo, an ICRC spokesman told IRIN on Wednesday. No-one was injured in the incident.

“An ICRC four-wheel drive vehicle and a lorry had just left Huambo around noon on Friday when this happened,” the spokesman said. “Fortunately it was only the rear section of the lorry which was damaged, sustaining a broken axle. The staff were jolted but fortunately no-one was hurt. They were very lucky.”

He said Halo Trust anti-mining experts examined the road and that new security measures were decided. These included only commencing food distribution in the region after 9:00 a.m. so that the army could check the routes in advance. Staff had also been instructed not to travel on secondary roads in the area during food distribution operations.

“It turns out the mine had been displaced by heavy rains in the area,” he added. Huambo, Angola’s second city has been held under virtual seige by the UNITA rebel movement since the breakdown late last year of the UN-backed Lusaka Protocol peace accords, forcing the humanitarian community to fly food in by cargo plane for local distribution.