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1996

Angola

Articles 1 - 10 of 10

Full-Text Articles in Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Ddasaccident061, Hd-Aid Nov 1996

Ddasaccident061, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators were unable to approach the accident site when they visited on 2nd December 1996. They returned on 5th December when the area had been re-cleared. Their report stated that the demining group were working on two sites, with 18 men at one site and seven men working at the other. Both came under an expatriate supervisor who was at the larger site 18k away). The track being cleared ran along the side of "an old railway embankment". It was described as "distinct" but "overgrown with sparse vegetation". [A photograph showed stubs of coarse grass in the path and …


Ddasaccident062, Hd-Aid Nov 1996

Ddasaccident062, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The report gave a timetable of events which indicated that the team started work at 06:00 and the accident occurred at 07:05 when the victim "prodded onto" a PPM-2. By 07:09 the victim had been carried to a safe area by two colleagues and was receiving treatment from the medic. The deminer "took deep blast wound to the area between the thumb and forefinger" of his left hand. The medic did not administer painkillers but "packs wound on the hand".


Ddasaccident063, Hd-Aid Oct 1996

Ddasaccident063, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Meanwhile deminers from another team approached and joined the two who had moved closer to the sticks lying by the missed mine. As Victim No.1 bent to pick up the sticks he stepped on the mine with his left foot. His body was low down and immediately over the mine. As he had been resting, he was not wearing any protective equipment. He suffered traumatic amputation of his left foot, amputation of "several" fingers of his right hand, a broken jaw, his lower lip was torn away, both eyes were severely damaged (resulting in blindness) and the "frontal area of …


Ddasaccident064, Hd-Aid Oct 1996

Ddasaccident064, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The demining group's spokesman reported that the accident occurred on a day when two clearance teams were sent to work at an area that had been previously surveyed and marked. When the teams arrived they found that the warning signs and marking system had been removed (presumed stolen). The teams had to determine the borders of the area to be cleared again. There was a path running along one side of the area and the two Team Leaders disagreed over whether the path had been inside or outside of the original marked area. They finally decided that it had been …


The Un Department Of Humanitarian Affairs In Angola: A Model For The Coordination Of Humanitarian Assistance?, Toby Lanzer Aug 1996

The Un Department Of Humanitarian Affairs In Angola: A Model For The Coordination Of Humanitarian Assistance?, Toby Lanzer

Global CWD Repository

This report outlines the problems of, and gives recommendations on the mine action activities in Angola. It looks at the situation which faces the Central Mine Action Office (CMAO) and the possibilities to improve the situation. The complicated relationship between CMAO and the National Institute for the Removal of Obstacles and Explosive Ordnance (INAROE) is of main concern. The aim was to draft an agreement between CMAO and INAROE and to assess the institutional structure in which CMAO was operating, to indentify problems, and to recommend an effective and sustainable alternative structure.


Ddasaccident065, Hd-Aid Jun 1996

Ddasaccident065, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At around 11:10 the victim got a detector reading and began "prodding and excavating the ground using a bayonet" held in his left hand. A PPM-2 mine detonated. The victim was knocked backward "about" two metres by the blast and was lying partly in an uncleared area. He stood up quickly, leaving his visor which had been "blown away and broken by the blast". The victim received first aid and arrived at the field hospital at 11:20.


Ddasaccident066, Hd-Aid Jun 1996

Ddasaccident066, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Prior to the accident a two-man team including Victim No.3 were clearing a one metre wide lane. They were wearing frag-jackets, helmets and visors. The Team supervisor (a Uruguayan National) was not wearing protective clothing. He became Victim No.1. Another ex-pat supervisor (Pakistani National) on site was wearing a helmet and visor. He became Victim No.2. The deminers could see a partly exposed PMN about two metres in front of the end-of-lane marker stick.


Ddasaccident068, Hd-Aid Apr 1996

Ddasaccident068, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

At 10:05 the victim located a PPM-2 at the head of his lane. He called the Team Leader who marked the mine to be destroyed it at the end of the day. The victim and his partner then moved to another lane. When they changed roles (resting/demining) just before 10:30, the victim went back to the lane where he had found the mine. His partner saw that he had taken off his visor and shouted a warning to him. The victim ignored him and started probing a metre from the uncovered mine in the belief that a second mine had …


Ddasaccident067, Hd-Aid Apr 1996

Ddasaccident067, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

In an "Accident report" supplied by the commercial demining company on 13th January 1999 the accident was described as having occurred on a narrow section of bridge that was left spanning the River "Lui" (the main part of the bridge was destroyed). The demining company had been contracted to clear the road and did not have responsibility for clearing the bridge. The narrow section was used to gain access to the far side of the bridge and continue working along the road. The demining team crossed it in order to work. When they returned the victim (who was a medic) …


Ddasaccident069, Hd-Aid Mar 1996

Ddasaccident069, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

In a copy of a FAX dated 6th March 1996 to another company (presumed to have been the victims' direct employers) the accident is recorded as "two members of our North Team were seriously injured in a landmine detonation while they were demining the bridge site over the river Lui". It goes on "both men are in a serious but fortunately stable condition. One man has regrettably lost the use of his eyes whilst the prognosis for the other man is slightly better".