29/06/2023 Etiopia (Ethiopia), Tigray region
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Farmers in Kola Tembien in Central Tigray, one of the major battle grounds during the two years destructive war between Ethiopian government and the Tigrayan forces are unable to get back to their livelihood, farming, even seven months after the war was ended through negotiated settlement, as a result of landmines and explosives buried in the area during the war. According to the UN’s Mine Action Service (UNMAS), totals of 726 square kilometers of land in Ethiopia remain contaminated of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) from several internal and international armed conflicts occurred throughout the country’s history. The recent war in the country’s North has added new explosives contamination that poses an immediate threat to life and livelihoods, the UNMAS said in 2022. “Over 280 casualties have been reported in Northern Ethiopia since the beginning of the conflict, although not all cases have been verified – but it is believed that many other accidents go unreported. Initial analysis shows that children make an alarming majority of casualties (57%),” it stated. A latest report issued months ago by the Tigray Humanitarian Action Unit and non-governmental Rehabilitation and Development Organization (RaDO) on the status of landmines and ERWs in Tigray, said hundreds of people died and hundred others injured following incidents of explosion of ERWs. The report which was obtained and reviewed by Addis Standard notes that plenty of landmines and explosive remnants of war, light and heavy weapons remain in areas where active military engagements took place and, are putting lives of people at a great risk. 90% of the total incidents have occurred in remote rural areas and 45% of the explosive stricken areas are farmlands, the report added.
Photo-Source: addisstandard.com
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