Summary
As a result of 30 years of conflict, Chad is affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). In 1997 the Chadian government approached the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for aid in coordinating a comprehensive national mine action programme that could reduce the number of ERW-related fatalities and injuries, enhance stability, and support overall humanitarian actions and economic development. As a further indication of its commitment, the government signed and ratified the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty. The national mine action programme is part of an overall development and poverty-reduction programme and was integrated in 2003 into the National Poverty Reduction Strategy. The programme provides the full range of mine action services. In 2006, funding shortages, a difficult political situation and mine clearance accidents hampered operations and resulted in very limited progress towards the country’s goal of being mine free by 2009.
Between January 2006 and August 2006, a total of 2.5 million square meters of land was cleared and returned to productive use. A total of 224 landmines and 6,900 items of unexploded ordnance were cleared and destroyed by the Mines Advisory Group, the national army and the High Commission for National Demining (HCND).
Each year, UN entities, nongovernmental organizations, national and local authorities and donors collaborate to assemble a national portfolio of mine action project proposals that together reflect the strategic response developed in the field to all aspects of the problem of landmines and explosive remnants of war. A Country Portfolio Coordinator, usually a representative of a UN agency or a national authority, coordinates meetings where all mine action actors agree on a set of projects and priorities and determine funding needs. The proposals in each country's portfolio are assembled with those of other participating countries and published jointly by the UN Mine Action Service, the UN Development Programme and UNICEF in an annual "Portfolio of Mine Action Projects." This publication serves as a tool for collaborative resource mobilization, coordination and planning of mine action activities. The Chad Country Portfolio Team's funding appeal for mine action projects in 2007 totals US $3,804,417.
Scope of the Problem
Most of the known mined areas in Chad are in the Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti (BET) region in the north and in the Biltine and Ouaddai regions in the east, with lesser mined areas in the west and the south. There is also a serious general unexploded ordnance problem throughout the country, especially in the north and east. Minefields generally contain a mix of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines and some booby-traps. To date, 29 types of mines of various origins have been identified. Marking the location of landmines and ERW is more difficult because of a lack of comprehensive records as well as the movement of the ordnance due to rainfall and drifting sands.
A landmine impact survey (LIS) implemented between December 1999 and June 2001 identified 249 mine-affected communities covering up to 1,081 square kilometres, not including the Tibesti region, which is the most-affected area in the country. The total number of victims reported during the course of the LIS was 1,668 (824 fatalities and 844 injuries). Landmines and ERW affect the livelihoods and safety of over 280,000 people and block access to critical resources such as water and grazing areas. Since June 2001, new minefields and dangerous areas together measuring 85.2 square kilometres have been found. As of August 2006, the total number of recorded victims reached 2,286 (1,075 fatalities and 1,211 injuries), with 213,713 people living in areas considered dangerous. During the first six months of 2006 alone, 26 new fatalities and 55 new injuries were recorded.
Between December 2005 and April 2006, in addition to the conflict in the Tibesti Region, various rebel groups attacked the National Army in the east (along the border with Sudan), the south (along the border with the Central African Republic) and the capital on April 13, 2006. During these and other battles, malfunctioning ammunition was abandoned and became a hazard the civilians in these areas. Units were deployed for immediate battle area clearance operations. A limited mine risk education campaign (funded by UNICEF and with technical support of HCND) was organized.
Coordination and Consultation
Since 1997, UNDP has been assisting the government with the coordination of the national mine action programme through the UN Office for Project Services. Clearance of landmines and ERW in Chad is mostly done through nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). For the most part, victim assistance is carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross through local NGOs and in collaboration with the HCND. Mine risk education is carried out by UNICEF through HCND teams. This approach ensures the most effective use of national and international resources.
In 2002, Chad developed the 2002 to 2009 National Strategic Mine Action Plan to erase the landmine/ERW threat. Planning and coordination of prioritised mine action activities, including those arising from the strategic plan, are based on the results of the LIS, new findings, new situations and ad-hoc technical surveys, which are the responsibility of HCND. Regional Mine Action Centres are responsible for the local execution of activities in coordination with the local authorities. To ensure that mine action is integrated into broader development, reconstruction, and humanitarian programmes, the national mine action plan was aligned in 2003 with the government’s overall reconstruction and development of Chad’s Millennium goals through its integration in the National Poverty Reduction Plan.
Mine action is recognized as a critical issue to be addressed within the context of Chad’s recovery and long-term development activities. It has been included in the UN’s Common Country Assessment and UN Development Assistance Framework, which has been approved by the government. UNDP’s Country Programme Document for Chad, prepared as the framework for interventions from 2006 to 2010, has been based on Chad’s national development priorities and goals, and was prepared with inputs from and consultations with all key stakeholders, including line ministries, civil society, UN agencies and donors. Finally, consultations have taken place to ensure that the reviews of the UN Consolidated Appeals Process would be consistent with the projects presented in the Portfolio for Mine Action Projects 2007.
Strategy
The mine action programme aims to build national capacity to tackle the landmine/ERW problem, meet obligations under the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty and to have the country become Chad free of landmines and ERW by the end of 2009 (not including the Tibesti Region). During Phase I of this programme, the HCND was established to plan and coordinate mine action, a national demining capacity was developed, and a national database established. Phase II involved the establishment of a mine-clearance/explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) capacity, and the completion of the landmine impact survey. Phase III, under way, consists of mine-clearance, EOD, surveys, and marking in areas identified as national priorities by the government in line with the LIS and taking into consideration the Darfur refugee situation and the political situations in the North and East. Accordingly, teams have been deployed in Faya Largeau, Iriba, Guéréda, Tiné, Moïto, Massenya, Fada, Kalaït, Ounianga Kébir, Wadi Doum, and all along the Sudanese border. In this phase, international NGOs are playing an important role. Chad completed destruction of stockpiled antipersonnel landmines in 2003.
Chad’s strategy has been to initially focus on clearing high-impact areas. Priorities are now aligned with the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the results of a survey implemented in the south of the Tibesti Region.
On the conditions that a peace agreement for Tibesti will be signed in 2007 and that Chad receives sufficient donor support for capacity building and operations, the government and the mine action community have set a goal for clearing all known high- and medium-priority areas by the end of 2008. Funding required for this is approximately US$12 million for 2007 and 2008, and an additional US$ 4.9 million will be needed to implement the Mine Action Plan in the Tibesti Region during the same period.
- Capacity building of HCND: Ongoing capacity building involves the training of Chadian personnel for management and administrative tasks, with the goal of reducing the need for outside technical assistance.
- Minefield and battle area clearance: Demining platoons, explosive ordnance disposal teams and survey marking teams will continue operations in Fada and commence limited technical surveys and clearance operations in N’Djamena, Fada, Wadi Doum, Zouarké, Yebbi Bou, Gouro, and Kouba Olanga, in collaboration with nongovernmental operators.
- Technical surveys: A landmine/ERW countrywide technical survey will be implemented, and a technical survey will also be conducted in the Tibesti Region if the political situation permits it.
- Data management: Continued implementation of the Information Management System for Mine Action.
- Mine risk education: Provide mine risk education to 70,000 people from 65 communities (32 high impact; 33 medium impact). This will be done by supporting capacity-building of the mine risk education section of the HCND for the development, implementation and monitoring of activities at national and local levels. This will also help prepare HCND teams to undertake the implementation of mine risk education in the Tibesti Region.
- Victim assistance: In 2007, a Victim Assistance Plan, including health care and socioeconomic reintegration of victims and their families, will be drafted to ensure provision of comprehensive services to newly injured and existing survivors.
- Advocacy and the mine-ban treaty: The rules set forth in the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty will be applied and respected, and the government will promote advocacy for banning the use of anti-personnel landmines.
- Regional Mine Action Centres (RMACs): Support RMACs in Fada, Wadi Doum, and Bardai. The RMAC provides management infrastructure for operational activities in Borkou, Ennedi and Tibesti regions. In 2007 a new sub-RMAC will be set up in Zouarke and Yebi Bou, according to the terms of the 2005 Tibesti Peace Agreement.
- Organizational support: In 2007, support will be provided to existing national associations and NGOs, in the areas of mine risk education, clearance, and victim and survivor assistance.
- Gender will be taken into account in throughout implementation of the Mine Action Plan.
Date Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty signed: Jul 06, 1998
Date of Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty ratification or accession: May 06, 1999
Consents to be bound by Protocol II of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons: N/A
Consents to be bound by Amended Protocol II of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons: N/A
Date signed Protocol V of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons: N/A