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Chad

Chad

2008 Key Data

State Party since

1 November 1999

Contamination

Antipersonnel and antivehicle mines, submunitions, other UXO, AXO

Estimated area of contamination

No credible estimate

Casualties in 2008

131 (2007: 186)

Estimated mine/ERW survivors

Unknown but at least 1,588

Article 5 (clearance of mined areas)

Deadline: 1 January 2011

Original deadline: 1 November 2009

Demining in 2008

Clearance of 0.04km2 of mined areas

Clearance of 2.85km2 of battle areas

Release of 131km2 of suspected hazardous areas

Risk education recipients in 2008

34,376

Progress towards victim assistance aims

Slow

Support for mine action in 2008

Ten-Year Summary

The Republic of Chad became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 November 1999. National implementation legislation was promulgated in August 2006. Chad completed destruction of its 4,490 stockpiled antipersonnel mines in January 2003. Since then, it has discovered and destroyed an additional 1,418 stockpiled mines. It retains no mines for training purposes.

Chad was unable to meet its 1 November 2009 Article 5 deadline for clearance of mined areas. The reasons were the extent of contamination, armed conflict, and poor management of the mine action program. Chad requested, and was granted, a 14 month extension to conduct a survey of suspected hazardous areas. The survey results will help Chad to determine how much additional time is needed to complete its clearance obligations. The extent to which Chad remains affected by cluster munition remnants is also unknown.

From 1999–2008, Landmine Monitor identified at least 977 mine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties, including 287 killed, 666 injured, and 24 of unknown status although figures might be higher as data collection was inadequate. In total, at least 2,763 casualties were recorded in Chad, but this probably includes 1,686 casualties identified in the 1999–2001 Landmine Impact Survey. Mine/ERW risk education has been implemented directly by National Demining Center teams, in schools and through a network of community volunteers, focusing on refugees and communities in high-impact areas. In 2008, progress was made in integrating risk education in the primary school curriculum. Despite being part of the so-called VA26 group, with responsibility for significant numbers of survivors, mine/ERW survivors receive limited support. Service provision continued to be adversely affected by the armed conflict.

Mine Ban Policy

Chad signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 6 July 1998 and ratified it on 6 May 1999, becoming a State Party on 1 November 1999. National implementation legislation was promulgated on 26 August 2006.[1]

Chad submitted its annual updated Article 7 report for 2008 on 1 July 2009. It has submitted eight previous reports.[2]

Chad attended the Ninth Meeting of States Parties in Geneva in November 2008, where it presented its Article 5 deadline extension request and made a statement on victim assistance (VA). Chad participated in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in May 2009, where it made statements on mine clearance and VA.

Chad was absent from the 2 December 2008 vote on UN General Assembly Resolution 63/42 calling for universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.

Chad has not engaged in the discussions that States Parties have had on matters of interpretation and implementation related to Articles 1, 2, and 3. However, in July 2006, Chad sent a letter to Landmine Monitor stating that, with regard to Article 1, “we will reject any rules of engagement permitting use of antipersonnel mines and will refuse to order them as well. We will also reject participation in any joint operation if our military forces derive any military benefit from use of antipersonnel mines and we will not provide security or transportation of antipersonnel mines.”[3]

Chad is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons. It signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions in December 2008, but had not yet ratified it as of 1 July 2009.[4]

Production, transfer, stockpiling, and use

Chad is not known to have produced or exported antipersonnel mines. It completed destruction of its stockpile of 4,490 antipersonnel mines in January 2003. It destroyed 1,365 newly discovered stockpiled mines from 2003 to early 2005, and reported later in 2005 the destruction of an additional 42 mines discovered in a container abandoned by the Libyan army.[5] Chad reported destroying another 11 stockpiled antipersonnel mines in 2007, but did not report details of the locations or sources of the mines.[6]

In all of its Article 7 reports Chad has reported that it does not retain any antipersonnel mines for training purposes.

It is alleged that smugglers lift and sell landmines found in mined areas in Chad bordering Niger.[7]

In the past, there have been occasional allegations of use of antipersonnel mines by Chadian forces, but no compelling evidence has been presented and the government has strongly denied the charges.[8]

Scope of the Problem

Contamination

Chad is contaminated by mines and ERW resulting from the 1973 Libyan invasion and 30 years of internal conflict, which continues to this day, but the precise nature and extent of this contamination remains to be quantified. The UN has referred to “vast quantities of unexploded ordnance and other explosive remnants of war” across eastern Chad.[9] Previous estimates of 670km2 of suspected hazardous areas (SHAs) outside the northern Tibesti department, identified as a result of a 1999–2001 Landmine Impact Survey (LIS),[10] are widely believed to overstate the true extent of the problem today. An upcoming survey of SHAs is expected to clarify the situation across most of the country, but it will not include the Tibesti department where most of the contamination is believed to be located.[11] Clearance has been completed in two areas—Faya (Largeau) and Ounianga-Kébir—while partial clearance has been conducted of Fada, Gouro, and Wadi-Doum.[12]

In November 2007, the coordinator of the National Demining Center (Centre National de Déminage, CND) claimed that ERW posed a greater humanitarian threat than mines but promised to “expand our minefield survey and clearance capacity, without abandoning our commitment to addressing the ERW contamination that is killing and injuring Chadians now.”[13] Contamination likely comprises cluster munition remnants. Following the end of the conflict with Libya in 1987, unexploded submunitions and cluster munition containers were found in the Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti region, Biltine department in Wadi Fira region (northeastern Chad), and east of the capital, N’Djamena.[14] On 3 December 2008, at the signing conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the representative of Chad spoke of “vast swathes of territory” contaminated with “mines and UXO (munitions and submunitions).”[15] No submunitions were formally reported to have been found during demining operations in 2008;[16] however, the CND recorded one dangerous area containing 10 unexploded submunitions in Biltine department in 2008.[17]

Casualties

In 2008, Landmine Monitor identified at least 131 new mine/ERW casualties, including 24 killed, 99 injured, and eight of unknown status.[18] Of these, 122 casualties were recorded by the CND and nine were reported in the media.[19] The vast majority of casualties were civilians (120), three were military, and the status of eight remains unknown. Children were the biggest casualty group (65) including 47 boys, nine girls, and nine children of unknown gender; the age of 15 casualties was unknown. Among adult casualties (51), the majority were men (45). Nearly all casualties were caused by ERW (120). The majority of recorded casualties occurred in eastern Chad (49) and in N’Djamena (47). Activities at the time of the incident were not recorded systematically, but verification was ongoing as of May 2009.[20]

The 2008 casualty rate is a decrease compared to 2007 (188)[21] and 2006 (139)[22] but it is still higher than 2003–2005, due to ongoing conflict. The number of reported casualties is likely to increase as data collection improves. In May 2009, the CND reported that six additional casualties were identified for 2008, but no details were available and verification was ongoing so these casualties were not added to the above total.[23] Casualties are believed to be under-reported because of rapid burial practices for religious reasons, but also due to the size of the country and the ongoing conflict.[24]

Casualties continued to occur in 2009, but at a lower rate with nine ERW casualties (seven killed and two injured) as of 31 May 2009. On 2 April 2009, one girl was killed and two others injured in Titre village, in Dar Sila region, eastern Chad. They were playing with an ERW they found while looking for water.[25] In May 2009, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported an additional six child casualties, all killed, in eastern Chad.[26] In May, the CND reported that no casualties from 2009 were entered into the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) as verification of data was ongoing.[27] It had received partial information on at least 10 incidents, but no further information was available.[28]

The total number of casualties in Chad remains unknown. The CND could not provide data for the last 10 years due to ongoing problems with information management.[29] From data made available to Landmine Monitor in previous years, the CND has registered at least 2,763 casualties (1,167 killed, 1,588 injured, and eight of unknown status) as of December 2008.[30] Since 2000, at least 15 clearance staff have been killed and 11 injured.[31] The LIS identified 1,688 mine/ERW casualties (825 killed and 863 injured) from January 1998 to May 2001.[32] The LIS figures are probably included in the CND totals. From 1999 to 2008, Landmine Monitor identified at least 977 casualties, including 287 killed, 666 injured, and 24 of unknown status.[33]

There are no reliable statistics on the number of persons with disabilities in Chad. In 2004, the government estimated that 5.3% of the population was disabled. Limb loss due to mines or other weapons was specified as one of the categories of disability, and 1.9% of persons with disabilities were registered under this category.[34]

Risk profile

The greatest risk from mines is in Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti region in the north of the country. People are at risk from ERW contamination throughout the country, which increased in January 2008 in and around N’Djamena as a result of combat. The majority of recorded casualties are boys and men living in areas contaminated by ERW, particularly in the capital and in eastern Chad. At-risk groups are herders, farmers and children playing.[35]

Socio-economic impact

The current extent of socio-economic impact from mines and ERW is unknown. According to the UN, mine and ERW contamination affects the livelihoods and safety of more than 280,000 people.[36] These figures, though, relate to the findings of the LIS, and are probably now out of date.[37] Continued fighting in the east of the country has added to the problem and its impact. Thus, the UN Secretary-General reported to the Security Council in July 2009 that air attacks by the Chadian armed forces against non-state armed groups (NSAGs) had resulted in a new UXO threat, which subsequently “claimed the lives of at least six children in the Dar Sila region and resulted in school closures and restricted access to farmland.”[38]

Program Management and Coordination

Mine action and risk education

Since a 2007 decree,[39] mine action, including risk education, in Chad has been under the responsibility of a Steering Committee, which serves as the interministerial National Mine Action Authority. The Steering Committee, which is chaired by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Economy and Cooperation,[40] is responsible for mine action regulation, policy, and resource mobilization.[41]

All mine action operations are coordinated by the CND, whose work is overseen by the Steering Committee.[42] Four CND regional centers coordinate activities within their respective zones in Abéché, Bardaï, Fada, and Faya.[43] A “sub-center” was subsequently created by the CND in Am Timan.[44]

At the end of 2008, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) set up a mine action center in Abéché within the context of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and initiated an emergency survey and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) capacity to ensure the safe deployment of the peacekeeping mission.[45] Under contract to MINURCAT, MineTech started to deploy its EOD teams in January 2009. MINURCAT planned to establish field offices in Farchana, Goz Beïda, and Iriba in July 2009, which were to have a mine action component.[46]

Victim assistance

The CND is also in charge of coordination, management, and monitoring of VA.[47] Risk education (RE) and VA fall specifically under the Directorate of Awareness and Victim Assistance (Directorate de la Sensibilisation et Assistance aux Victimes).[48] In November 2008, Chad reported that the Directorate of Awareness and Victim Assistance works in partnership with NGOs, associations, the ICRC, Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Labor, and the Ministry of Social Action and Family,[49] which is responsible for disability issues.[50]

Data collection and management

Following conflict in the capital in February 2008, all of the CND’s computers were stolen, but in August 2008 UNDP reported that new computers had been purchased.[51] Chad is using the latest version of IMSMA, which was installed by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) in December 2008.[52] The Mine Action unit of MINURCAT is also using IMSMA, and data is said to be regularly fed into the CND databases in Abéché and N’Djamena.[53]

While there have been improvements since 2007, casualty data collection in Chad remains inadequate.[54] CND field teams collect casualty data and transfer it to the CND’s four regional centers and the headquarters in N’Djamena.[55] Hospitals, local authorities, the ICRC, and NGOs including Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also collect casualty data.[56]

Data collection and forms are not standardized among all actors.[57] The CND reported that data arrives from the field in N’Djamena “slowly” and that it is often incomplete as many actors do not use IMSMA forms, but transfer the information about incidents via radio.[58] In 2008, the ICRC organized two data collection trainings in Adré and N’Djamena for Red Cross of Chad (CRC) volunteers and staff from the Ministry of Health.[59] While data is normally stored in IMSMA, in 2009 the CND reported that there was a problem with their database, which resulted in the loss of information. As of May 2009, the CND reported it was working with GICHD to restore the database and retrieve data.[60]

In 2008, the ICRC revised the IMSMA forms for recording RE activities for use by the CND, although data entry did not start until January 2009, and there were no plans to record activities retroactively.[61]

Mine action program operators

National operators and activities

Demining

RE

Casualty data collection

VA

CND

x

x

x

x

International operators and activities

Demining

RE

Casualty data collection

VA

ICRC

   

x

x

MAG

x

x

x

 

MineTech

x

 

x

 

MSF

   

x

x

Plans

Strategic mine action plans

The 2003–2015 National Strategic Plan to Fight Mines and UXO, drafted in 2002, remains the reference document for mine action, including RE, although its relevance has been superseded by subsequent events, and it was revised in 2005. The following priorities have been defined for 2009 to 2011:

  • UXO clearance in the east and southeast of the country, and deployment of rapid response teams to urban centers;
  • technical surveys on contaminated regions, particularly Kalaït Fada, Wadi Doum, Kouba Olanga, Bahaï, and Gouro;
  • demining in the zones of Kalaït, Fada, Ounianga-Kébir, and Wadi Doum;
  • improved management of IMSMA;
  • systematized RE for risk prevention, and to support clearance and demining operations, along with continued development of the school curricula module;
  • design of a VA strategy and enhanced national capacities;
  • development of national mine action capacities; and
  • leveraging of national, bilateral, and multilateral resources and contributions.[62]

VA was included in Chad’s 2002 National Strategic Plan to Fight Landmines and UXO, revised in 2005 to include the aim of “zero victims” by 2009.[63] The plan was integrated in Chad’s 2003 Poverty Reduction Strategy, which recognized that ERW exacerbates poverty by creating new burdens on families and communities.[64] The target was not attained and the document is now obsolete. In May 2009, Chad stated that the development of a VA plan was ongoing and that funding was needed.[65] Chad has raised the funding issue since 2005 and further noted in June 2008 that the plan would be completed by the end of 2008 with funding from Canada.[66] In May 2009, the CND reported that one of the main objectives would be the launch of a disability census including questions on the cause of disability. The CND planned to present the plan to the Second Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty.[67]

Integration of mine action with reconstruction and development

To ensure that mine action is integrated into broader development, reconstruction, and humanitarian programs, the national mine action plan was aligned in 2003 with the government’s overall reconstruction plans, Chad’s Millennium Development Goals, and the National Poverty Reduction Strategy.[68] According to the chair of the Steering Committee: “The Government is determined that the affected areas are cleared to become a vital part of the fight against poverty.”[69]

National ownership

Commitment to mine action and victim assistance

Chad’s support to mine action has been uneven since becoming a State Party. A 2005 UN assessment found serious management and financial problems with the program. A national audit in 2006–2007 led to the suspension of the then-coordinator of the National Demining Office (Haut Commissariat National de Déminage, HCND), and resulted in the reorganization of the mine action program, particularly the coordination and management structures.[70] A new coordinator was appointed on 11 September 2007, several months after the reform of the HCND into the Steering Committee and the CND.

National management

Chad’s mine action program is nationally managed with the assistance of UNDP and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as implementing agency.[71] From July 2008 to April 2009, an institutional development advisor supported the CND’s coordinator in efforts to reform the mine action program in Chad.[72]

National budget

Since the establishment of the HCND in 1998, Chad has financed the salaries of CND staff from the national budget. Since 2008, the amount of national funding is said to have significantly increased, showing a new political commitment to mine action.[73]

National mine action legislation and standards

The HCND was established by a 1999 presidential decree[74] that was superseded by a new decree in 2007 that reorganized the coordination and management of the mine action program.[75] A separate ordinance appointed CND staff, including the coordinator.[76] National mine action standards were supposed to be developed during 2008, but had not been adopted by May 2009.[77]

There are no national standards for RE, but materials are developed with the support of the ICRC and UNICEF and informed by the needs in Chad, and are therefore considered by the CND to be to international standards.[78]

Demining and Battle Area Clearance

Clearance operations are performed by CND teams, with the support of international NGOs and commercial companies.[79] As of April 2009, the CND had an operational capacity of two demining units and three EOD teams.

Demining in 2008

In 2008, the mine action program focused on emergency battle area clearance (BAC) and EOD following conflict between government forces and NSAGs.[80] On 29 July 2008, one of the CND’s two demining teams initiated operations in Ounianga-Kébir in the northeast of the country, with funding from the Libyan De-mining Society of the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation and the Chadian government.[81] In September 2008, the second CND team started mine clearance in Fada, also in the northeast. After a quality control mission found technical deficiencies, clearance by both teams was suspended in March 2009. The teams were expected to resume operations in May 2009.[82]

Battle area clearance in 2008

After NSAG attacks in February 2008, emergency missions were deployed in N’Djamena, Massakory, Massaguet, and Mongo. The CND has reported a total area cleared of 2.8km2.[83] In July 2008, BAC operations restarted in the eastern Abéché area with the support of MAG (see table below).[84]

In the first quarter of 2009, MAG cleared a further 22,000m2 of battle areas, destroying 27,668 ERW and releasing 307km2.[85] During the same period, MINURCAT, through its contractor MineTech, verified 420km of main supply routes between Abéché, Farchana, and Goz Beïda and confirmed them free from contamination: they also visited 105 villages and communities, home to approximately 11,000 people, and collected and destroyed a total of 3,413 ERW.[86]

Demining and battle area clearance in 2008[87]

Operator

Area cleared
(m2)

Antipersonnel mines destroyed

Antivehicle mines destroyed

Unexploded submunitions destroyed

Other UXO destroyed

Area
released by survey (km2)

MAG

42,250

0

0

0

57,258 items

131

CND (mine clearance)

12,572

12

25

N/R

0.376 tons (376kg)

N/R

CND (BAC)

2,828,451

0

0

N/R

55.394 tons (55,394kg)

N/R

N/R = not reported

From December 2008–July 2009, MineTech verified 1,012km of main supply roads in eastern Chad as free of mines and ERW and visited 214 villages in conjunction with road verification and decontamination activities. A total of 10,349 items, including 1,680 ERW and 8,669 pieces of small arms ammunition, were subsequently removed as part of the road verification/clearance process and EOD/BAC emergency clearance activities; 1,333 of the ERW and 7,161 of the small arms ammunition were destroyed.[88] In May 2009, at Am Dam, following combat between the armed forces and NSAGs, a further 2.92km2 area of battlefield was cleared, “providing local populations with access to social infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools, as well as agricultural land.” A total of 1,201 items of ERW and 10,379 items of small arms ammunition were removed and destroyed.[89]

Progress since becoming a State Party

Chad was required by Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty to destroy or ensure the destruction of all antipersonnel mines under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 November 2009. Demining operations started in August 2000, but stopped at the end of December 2005 due to lack of funding.[90] There has since been only intermittent clearance of mined areas.

On 28 July 2008, Chad submitted an extension request for an initial 14-month period (1 November 2009 to 1 January 2011). In the request, Chad attributed the impending failure to meet its Article 5 deadline to a number of factors, including lack of funds, the lack of reliable technical survey (and questionable impact survey data), and poor management within the former HCND.[91] The ICBL stated that far greater progress should have been achieved by the mine action program in Chad after many years of significant UN and donor support.[92] Moreover, as the Analysing Group’s review of the extension request states, “Chad is unable to provide an accounting of the areas now considered to be no longer dangerous relative to those areas originally suspected of being dangerous.”[93]

According to the UNDP‘s institutional development advisor, the first period of the extension was intended to allow the mine action program to:

  • undertake a technical survey to clearly determine the residual contamination, and to develop an accurate and realistic action plan to address it;
  • deploy demining sections in the north and east of the country, an effort requiring the composition of a new demining section; and
  • revise Chad’s procedures for land release.[94]

A second extension request will be submitted on the basis of the planned survey and demining results.[95] At the Ninth Meeting of States Parties, the ICBL welcomed the request for a short amount of time to conduct the necessary surveys to clearly determine the remaining contaminated area. [96] The ICBL cautioned, however, that the Tibesti department will need to be cleared before Chad can declare completion of Article 5 obligations.[97]

The CND coordinator hoped to present the request for a second extension at the 2010 Meeting of States Parties to avoid a gap between the two extension periods during which Chad would be technically in violation of the treaty. This means that the technical survey of SHAs must be completed by March 2010 in order to prepare a realistic operational plan and a new extension request in time.[98] In May 2009, Chad declared that the survey would start in June 2009.[99]

Risk Education

RE provision continued to decrease in 2008, as 34,376 people were reached through CND teams, a reduction from 41,883 in 2007.[100] Preparations for conducting RE in schools took place in 2008, resulting in a significant increase in RE in the first half of 2009.[101] In February 2008, the highest priorities for RE became conflict-affected areas in western Chad, as well as in and around N’Djamena.[102]

There were three types of RE activities in 2008: direct awareness sessions, integration of RE into the school program, and training of trainers to create a sustainable community-based RE capacity.[103] RE through street theater was conducted in N’djamena.[104] MAG conducted some limited community liaison.[105]

RE activities were planned based on information from the LIS, traditional community leaders, and casualty reports. The reduction in casualties was attributed to RE by the CND, which concludes that RE is still needed because of high levels of illiteracy and large geographic areas that are difficult to reach.[106]

The CND implements RE through its three three-person RE teams, based in regional centers. The team in Abéché center received training in 2008.[107]

In 2008, progress was made in putting RE into the primary school curriculum. The curriculum, teachers’ guidelines and classroom materials were developed by the Ministry of Education and the CND. The aim was to provide knowledge and teach children about safe and unsafe behavior. The target areas were locations with a high rate of child casualties, and N’Djamena and the surrounding affected areas. Teachers were trained in 2008 and 2009 to start work in schools in 2009.[108]

The ICRC conducted a five-month-long needs assessment in 2008 in Mongo, Bitkine, Massaguet, Massakory, Adré, Goz Beïda, Biltine, Abou Goulem, Forchana, and Miele, to develop an RE program with the CRC.[109]

Activities in 2008[110]

Organization

Type of activity

Geographical location

No. of beneficiaries

CND

UXO emergency RE, direct RE, community-based RE, and training of trainers

Abéché, Am Zoer, Fada, Massaguet, Massakory, Mongo, N’Djamena, and Ounianga-Kébir

34,376

CND, Ministry of Education, UNICEF

School-based RE

N’Djamena and surrounding areas

150 school inspectors trained, 2 staff each in 345 schools

MAG

Limited community liaison prior to clearance

 

No figures available

ICRC and CRC

Training of CRC volunteers

Adré, Biltine, Massakory, and Mongo

Not available

The CND and UNICEF developed an “image box” teaching aid containing laminated posters. ICRC developed a user manual to accompany it, but it had not been printed as of April 2009.[111]

Media was used for RE, including radio, television, and newspapers, although access and the cost of putting spots on television limits coverage.[112] Some emergency messages were broadcast on radio in early 2008 after the conflict in N’Djamena.[113]

Prior to 2004, RE was only provided alongside clearance operations, with the creation of volunteer focal points to exchange information with the CND (until 2007, the HCND). The ICRC also broadcast radio messages. The 1999–2001 LIS identified a need for a focused RE program to reduce tampering with munitions. In 2004, an RE director was appointed at the HCND and a UNICEF consultant was also appointed. UNICEF started a project to support RE in 2005, and since then RE has been mainly implemented by the HCND/CND with support from UNICEF, which trained a large network of community volunteers and distributed materials. RE was delivered in schools. Since 2005, MAG has also helped to spread RE messages. RE has focused on refugees and communities in high-impacted areas. In 2006, RE activities were increased in and around N’Djamena due to renewed conflict.[114]

Victim Assistance

The total number of survivors is unknown, but is estimated to be at least 1,588.[115] In May 2009, Chad reiterated its commitment to VA and acknowledged that the progress made since the First Review Conference to improve the lives of survivors had not been sufficient due to lack of funding. It also stated that, despite government goodwill, it was difficult to address the needs of mine/ERW survivors, when basic needs of the population are not being met.[116]

Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world,[117] with a volatile security situation.[118] Much of the population sees little benefit from oil revenues.[119] The government of Chad has a limited capacity to provide medical and social services and many parts of the country are not served.[120] It is estimated that less than 40% of the population has access to basic healthcare.[121] According to the ICRC, in eastern Chad, healthcare services were “breaking down.”[122] NGOs providing humanitarian relief in the conflict areas continued to be the target of attacks, further limiting assistance.[123]

Emergency medical care is available at health posts, but the time required to reach the facilities varies from several hours to several days. The road network does not allow the quick transfer of patients.[124] The most serious cases are transferred to N’Djamena,[125] and when possible abroad.[126] There is a lack of specialized staff and very few facilities can carry out complex surgery.[127] In 2008, the CND trained medical personnel both among its staff and from other organizations.[128] In May 2009, a project was launched in Abéché with United States Department of State financial support, to equip a burn center and finance the purchase of ambulances.[129]

Reportedly, mine/ERW survivors can receive free medical care, if the patient receives a document from the CND.[130] It is unclear how many survivors received free medical care.

Physical rehabilitation services are limited to two centers: the Kabalaye Physical Rehabilitation Center (Centre d’Appareillage et de Rééducation de Kabalaye, CARK) in N’Djamena and the Our Lady of Peace Rehabilitation Center (Maison Notre Dame de la Paix, MNDP) in Moundou, both run by local NGOs with support from the ICRC.[131]

Access to psychological support, vocational training, and economic reintegration is limited, as are employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Psychological support is provided by social workers, religious organizations, and organizations for persons with disabilities.[132] Chad reported that the number of social workers continued to increase in 2008.[133] Yet many survivors reported they never received psychological assistance.[134]

The disability legislation approved in May 2007 stipulates access to health, education, socio-economic reintegration, sports, transport, housing, and social security for persons with disabilities.[135] It is unclear to what extent the law was implemented. Knowledge and recognition of the law’s benefits needed to be strengthened.[136] As of 1 July 2009, Chad has not signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Progress in meeting VA26 victim assistance objectives

Chad is one of the 26 States Parties with significant numbers of mine survivors, and “the greatest responsibility to act, but also the greatest needs and expectations for assistance” in providing adequate services for the care, rehabilitation, and reintegration of survivors.[137] As of May 2009, Chad did not present its 2005–2009 objectives as part of its commitment to the Nairobi Action Plan.

In May 2006, Chad announced its intention to launch a study to determine the number of survivors and their needs, followed by the development of SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) objectives and the implementation of an action plan. Implementation was conditional on funding.[138] Informally, Chad also presented some objectives for its 2006 action plan,[139] which were not achieved.[140] In April 2007, Chad described plans for VA activities for 2007 and appealed for financial support to recruit a consultant to develop a national VA plan.[141] In November 2007, Chad reported that the verification of casualty data, an analysis of the situation and the elaboration of an action plan had begun and appealed for international assistance.[142] It repeated the same in June and November 2008.[143] In May 2009, Chad restated that the development of a VA action plan was ongoing and that funding was needed.[144]

Chad presented 10 VA projects in the 2009 UN Portfolio of Mine Action Projects, but, as of May 2009, none had been funded. According to the CND, none of Chad’s VA projects presented in previous UN Portfolio of Mine Action Projects had ever received funding.[145]

In 2008, the Mine Ban Treaty Implementation Support Unit undertook a process support visit on the behalf of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration co-chairs.[146] The outcome of this visit has not been made public.

Chad reported on its VA activities at the meetings of States Parties from 2005–2008, and at the Standing Committee meetings from 2006–2009.[147] At most meetings, it gave similar statements on the VA situation and on the need for financial support. Chad used the voluntary Form J to its annual Article 7 reports to provide updates on VA activities from 2005–2008 and to provide an update on casualty data in 2009.[148] Chad included a VA focal point on its delegation to the intersessional Standing Committees meetings in 2006, 2008 and 2009 and at the meetings of States Parties in 2006 and 2008.[149]

Victim assistance activities

The ICRC continued to support the CARK and MNDP rehabilitation centers with raw materials, components, and on-the-job training. It financed the construction of a new physiotherapy department at CARK, which was expected to be completed by the end of 2009. It continued to support a referral system for patients from eastern Chad and covered patients’ transportation and accommodation costs. As services at CARK are not free, the ICRC also financed the treatment of 187 people. The two centers assisted 3,315 people and produced 325 prostheses (62% for survivors) and 473 orthoses (4% for survivors). Four Chadian technicians received refresher courses at the ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled (SFD) regional training center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.[150] In 2008, 228 weapon-injured were treated with ICRC support, including 10 mine/ERW survivors.[151]

The CRC, with ICRC support, continued to train and equip personnel in emergency response and ran a horse-and-cart ambulance service in the Adré border region.[152] MSF also provided emergency medical care to weapon-injured, including mine/ERW survivors, in Dogdoré, Goz Beïda and Adré in eastern Chad and in N’Djamena.[153]

The Association of Mutual Aid of Physically Disabled of Chad (Association d’Entraide aux Handicapés Physique du Tchad, AEHPT), a local organization based in N’Djamena, supports persons with physical disabilities.[154] In 2008, with the financial support of a local mobile network operator, AEHPT set up a workshop of persons with disabilities that produced 30 tricycles.[155] AEHPT has 1,518 registered members, but it is not known how many of them are mine/ERW survivors.[156]

Support for Mine Action

Landmine Monitor is not aware of comprehensive long-term cost estimates for meeting mine action needs (including RE and VA) in Chad. Chad has reported a cost estimate of US$15 million for completion of mine clearance between 2009 and 2011, with the government of Chad projected to cover $2 million per year, financial institutions covering $1.5 million, and “other international actors” providing $1.5 million per year.[157] The request covers survey, mine clearance, and land release.

National support for mine action

Chad reported XAF883,731,425 ($2,562,821) in annual government contributions to mine action as of July 2008.[158] These included XAF4 million ($1,160,000) to support CND operations.[159] Chad reported national funding of $2,512,000 to mine clearance and related operations in 2007.[160]

International cooperation and assistance

In 2008, three countries reported providing a total of $2,145,486 (€1,456,937) to mine action in Chad. Reported international funding in 2008 was roughly double that reported in 2007. Funding at 2008 levels is not on target to meet Chad’s mine clearance budget of $5 million per year. In March 2009, however, Japan made a contribution of ¥762 million ($7,391,400) to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action (VTF) for mine action in the DRC and Chad.[161] In May 2009, Chad reported that $5,586,000 of that amount would be allocated to technical survey and clearance in Wadi Doum. Chad also reported a contribution of $380,000 from Canada to support CND capacity.[162] These contributions appear to make up much of the shortfall in Chad’s reported budget for mine clearance, but they do not address Chad’s ongoing VA needs.

2008 International Mine Action Funding to Chad: Monetary[163]

Donor

Implementing Agencies/Organizations

Project Details

Amount

Spain

UN Voluntary Trust Fund, ICRC

Mine clearance, VA

$1,398,970 (€950,000)

Canada

UNDP

Mine clearance

$451,996 (C$481,821)

Belgium

CND

Mine clearance

$294,520 (€200,000)

In addition to the above, Chad reported funding for mine RE training workshops during 2008 from the US via UNICEF. According to Chad’s Article 7 report, the US did not provide funding to Chad in 2008.[164] Chad reported assistance for clearance operations in Ounianga-Kébir from the Libyan De-mining Society of the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation,[165] but it did not report the value of this assistance.


[1] Article 7 Report, Forms A and J, 1 April 2007. For the text of the law, see www.icrc.org.

[2] Previous Article 7 reports were submitted on 1 April 2008, 1 April 2007, 1 September 2006, 27 September 2005, 27 May 2004, 30 April 2003, 29 April 2002, and 12 December 2001.

[3] Landmine Monitor Report 2006, p. 273. Chad has still not made known its views on issues related to foreign stockpiling and transit of antipersonnel mines, antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes or antihandling devices, and mines retained for training.

[4] For details on Chad’s cluster munition policy and practice see Human Rights Watch and Landmine Action, Banning Cluster Munitions: Government Policy and Practice, Mines Action Canada, May 2009, pp. 55–56.

[5] Article 7 Report, Form G, 1 September 2006; and Landmine Monitor Report 2006, p. 274.

[6] Article 7 Report, Form G, 1 April 2008.

[7] See report on Niger in this edition of Landmine Monitor.

[8] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 289–290; and Landmine Monitor Report 2006, p. 274.

[9] “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad,” (New York: UN Security Council, 4 December 2008), S/2008/760, para. 15.

[10] See Landmine Monitor Report 2007, p. 244.

[11] Article 7 Report, Form C, 1 July 2009.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Statement of Chad, Eighth Meeting of States Parties, Dead Sea, 19 November 2007.

[14] Handicap International (HI), “Fatal Footprint: The Global Human Impact of Cluster Munitions,” Brussels, November 2006, p. 17; HI, “Circle of Impact: The Fatal Footprint of Cluster Munitions on People and Communities,” Brussels, May 2007, p. 48; and Survey Action Center (SAC) and HI, “Landmine Impact Survey Republic of Chad,” Washington, DC, 2000, p. 59, www.sac-na.org; and see Human Rights Watch and Landmine Action, Banning Cluster Munitions: Government Policy and Practice, Mines Action Canada, May 2009, p. 56.

[15] Statement of Chad, Convention on Cluster Munitions Signing Conference, Oslo, 3 December 2008.

[16] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, Technical Advisor for Strategic Planning and Operations, CND, N’Djamena, 20 April 2009.

[17] IMSMA incident form ref. REF_Excel/ ABE_U014, 27 December 2008.

[18] Landmine Monitor media monitoring from 1 January 2008–31 December 2008; Landmine Monitor analysis of: CND, “Liste générale des victims des mines et autres engines non explosés/2008” (“General list of mine/ERW victims/2008”), provided by Assane Ngueadoum, CND, N’Djamena, 15 April 2009; and email from Assane Ngueadoum, CND, 22 May 2009.

[19] Ibid.

[20] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[21] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 234; and statement of Chad, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 28 November 2008. Chad reported 188 casualties for 2007 in its statements at the Ninth Meeting of States Parties and at the Standing Committee meetings in June 2008 as well as in its 2008 Article 7 report. However, it only provided detailed records for 186 casualties. CND, “Année 2007: Liste des victimes des mines et de UXOs recensées par le CND” (“Year 2007: list of mine/UXO victims recorded by the CND”), provided by Assane Ngueadoum, CND, N’Djamena, 15 April 2009.

[22] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 235; and CND, “Année 2006: Liste des victimes des mines et de UXOs recensées par le HCND” (“Year 2006: list of mine/UXO victims recorded by the HCND”), provided by Assane Ngueadoum, CND, N’Djamena, 15 April 2009.

[23] Email from Assane Ngueadoum, CND, 22 May 2009; and interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[24] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009; and Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 235.

[25] ICRC, “Fiche d’evenement restes explosifis de guerre et mines – Tchad” (“Explosive remnants of war and mines event sheet – Chad”), 5 April 2009, provided by Sitack Yombatina Béni, Assistant to the Head of Delegation, ICRC, N’Djamena, 16 April 2009.

[26] “Unexploded ordnance killed six children in Chad,” Agence France-Presse (Libreville), 3 June 2009, www.afp.com.

[27] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009; and interview with Fatimata Mohammad Hisseine, Director of Risk Education and Victim Assistance, CND, N’Djamena, 17 April 2009.

[28] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[29] Ibid.

[30] In 2008, Chad reported that up to December 2007, 2,632 casualties were recorded (1,143 killed and 1,489 injured). In 2009, Chad reported that from January to December 2008, 131 casualties were recorded (24 killed, 99 injured, and 8 of unknown status). See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 235; Landmine Monitor media monitoring from 1 January 2008–31 December 2008; Landmine Monitor analysis of CND, “Liste générale des victims des mines et autres engins non explosés/2008” (“General list of mine/ERW victims/2008”), provided by Assane Ngueadoum, CND, N’Djamena, 15 April 2009; and email from Assane Ngueadoum, CND, 22 May 2009.

[31] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 235.

[32] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 296.

[33] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 234 (188 casualties in 2007); Landmine Monitor Report 2007, pp. 242, 250 (139 casualties in 2006, 35 in 2005); Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 240 (32 casualties in 2004, 18 in 2003); Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 296 (200 casualties in 2002); and Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 168 (10 casualties in 2001, 76 in 2000, and 148 in 1999).

[34] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 236.

[35] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[36] See, for example, UN, “2009 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2008, p. 80.

[37] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, N’Djamena, 20 April 2009.

[38] “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad” (New York: UN Security Council, 14 July 2009), S/2009/359, para. 9.

[39] See Landmine Monitor Report 2007, p. 245.

[40] Ministry of Economy and Cooperation, Decree N° 498/PR/PM/MEP/07, 28 June 2007.

[41] Ibid.

[42] For further details see Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 231.

[43] The centers were established under Decree N° 498/PR/PM/MEP/07, issued by the Ministry of Economy and Cooperation on 28 June 2007.

[44] UN, “2009 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2008, p. 80.

[45] “Report of the Secretary-General on Chad and the Central African Republic,” (New York: UN Security Council, 10 August 2007), S/2007/488, para. 80; and see also UN, “2009 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2008, p. 80.

[46] Ibid.

[47] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009. “The focal point for victim assistance in Chad is the HCND and in particular the CND.” Co-Chairs of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, “Status of Victim Assistance in the Context of the AP Mine Ban Convention in the 26 Relevant States Parties 2005-2008,” Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 28 November 2008.

[48] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 239.

[49] Statement of Chad, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 28 November 2008. Notes by Landmine Monitor.

[50] US Department of State, “2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Chad,” Washington, DC, 25 February 2009.

[51] Email from Eva Faye, Institutional Development Advisor, UNDP/CND, 18 August 2008; and see also Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 231.

[52] Interviews with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, N’Djamena, 20 April 2009; and with Jean-Paul Rychener, Deputy Head of Information Management, GICHD, Geneva, 25 March 2009.

[53] Interview with Michel Cipiere, Program Manager Mine Action Unit, MINURCAT, in Geneva, 25 March 2009.

[54] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[55] Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 235; and interview with Fatimata Mohammad Hisseine, CND, N’Djamena, 17 April 2009.

[56] Ibid; and interview with Ronald-Paul Veilleux, Programme Manager, MAG, N’Djamena, 17 April 2009.

[57] Interview with Fatimata Mohammad Hisseine, CND, N’Djamena, 17 April 2009.

[58] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[59] Email from Sitack Yombatina Béni, ICRC, 30 April 2009.

[60] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[61]Interview with Sitack Yombatina Béni, ICRC, and Matthieu Laruelle, Weapon Contamination Advisor, Assistance Division, ICRC, N’Djamena, 16 April 2009; email from Sitack Yombatina Béni, ICRC, 30 April 2009; and interview with Ahaya Mallowa, Assistant Director for Sensitization, and Fadoul Ahmat, Chief of Production Section, CND, N’Djamena, 14 April 2009.

[62] UN, “2009 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2008, p. 81; CND/UNDP, “L’Action Contre les mines au Tchad” (“Mine Action in Chad”), Presentation document, 22 February 2009, p. 20; and see Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 236.

[63] See Landmine Monitor Report 2006, p. 284; and see Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 239.

[64] Republic of Chad, Ministry of Planning, Development and Cooperation, “National Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper,” N’Djamena, June 2003, pp. 48–49; and statement of Chad, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 8 May 2006.

[65] Statement of Chad, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva,
25 May 2009; and interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[66] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 239.

[67] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[68] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 232.

[69] Interview with Dr. Bachar Brahim Adoum, Secretary-General, Ministry of Economy and Cooperation, and Chair of the Mine Action Steering Committee, N’Djamena, 20 April 2009.

[70] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 232.

[71] UN, “2009 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2008, p. 80.

[72] Email from Eva Faye, UNDP/CND, 4 May 2009.

[73] Interviews with Mahamat Abdallah Kari, Coordinator, CND, and with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, N’Djamena, 14 April 2009; and CND/UNDP, “L’Action Contre les mines au Tchad” (“Mine Action in Chad”), Presentation document, 22 February 2009.

[74] Presidential Decree No. 133/PR/98, 19 May 1999.

[75] Ministry of Economy and Cooperation, Decree No. 498/PR/PM/MEP/07, 28 June 2007.

[76] Ministry of Economy and Cooperation, Decree N° 681/PR/PM/MEP/07, 11 September 2007.

[77] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 232.

[78] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[79] UN, “2009 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2008, p. 80.

[80] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 232.

[81] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 233; UN, “2009 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2008, p. 80; and interviews with Mahamat Abdallah Kari, CND, and with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, N’Djamena, 14 April 2009.

[82] Interviews with Mahamat Abdallah Kari, CND, and with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, N’Djamena, 14 April 2009.

[83] Email from Assane Ngueadoum, CND, 22 May 2009; and Article 7 Report, Form J, 1 July 2009.

[84] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 233; and UN, “2009 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2008, p. 80.

[85] Response to Landmine Monitor questionnaire by Ronald-Paul Veilleux, MAG, 22 April 2009.

[86] “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad” (New York: UN Security Council, 14 April 2009), S/2009/199, para. 15.

[87] MAG data in response to Landmine Monitor questionnaire by Ronald-Paul Veilleux, MAG, 22 April 2009; and see Article 7 Report, Forms G and J, 1 July 2009.

[88] The remainder of the items removed were put in temporary storage or handed over to the Chadian army. Email from Marie-Anne Menier, Mine Action Unit, MINURCAT, 28 August 2009.

[89] “Report of the Secretary-General, on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad” (New York: UN Security Council, 14 July 2009), S/2009/359, para. 54.

[90] Analysis of the Chad Article 5 deadline Extension Request, Submitted by the President of the Eighth Meeting of States Parties on behalf of States Parties mandated to analyze requests for extensions, 19 November 2008, p. 2.

[91] Article 5 deadline Extension Request, 29 July 2008, pp. 5–6.

[92] Statement of ICBL, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 25 November 2008.

[93] Analysis of the Chad Article 5 deadline Extension Request, Submitted by the President of the Eighth Meeting of States Parties on behalf of States Parties mandated to analyse requests for extensions, 19 November 2008, p. 2.

[94] Email from Eva Faye, UNDP/CND, 18 August 2008.

[95] Article 5 deadline Extension Request, 29 July 2008, p. 7.

[96] Statement of ICBL, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 25 November 2008.

[97] Ibid.

[98] Interviews with Mahamat Abdallah Kari, CND, and Assane Ngueadoum, CND, N’Djamena, 14 April 2009.

[99] Statement of Chad, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 27 May 2009.

[100] CND, UNICEF and Ministry of Education, “Rapport d’activité annuel 2008 de la direction de la sensibilisation contre le danger des mines et munitions non explosées” (“Annual Progress Report 2008 of the direction of awareness against the danger of mines and unexploded ordnance”), p. 7; and see Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 236.

[101] Email from Jean-Francois Basse, former Section Chief Child Protection, UNICEF, 21 June 2009.

[102]See Landmine Monitor Report 2008 p. 237.

[103] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[104] Article 7 Report, Form J, 1 July 2009.

[105] Email from Ronald-Paul Veilleux, MAG, 30 April 2009.

[106] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[107] Interviews with Ahaya Mallowa and Fadoul Ahmat, CND, N’Djamena, 14 April 2009; and with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[108] UNICEF, “MRE School Programme 2008–2009,” Internal document, April 2009, p. 1; interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009; and email from Jean-Francois Basse, UNICEF, 21 June 2009.

[109] Interview with Sitack Yombatina Béni and Matthieu Laruelle, ICRC, N’Djamena, 16 April 2009; email from Sitack Yombatina Béni, CND, 30 April 2009; and email from Camilla Waszink, Policy Adviser, Arms Unit, Legal Division, ICRC, 28 August 2009.

[110] Article 7 Report, Form J, 1 July 2009; CND, UNICEF, and Ministry of Education, “Rapport d’activité annuel 2008 de la direction de la sensibilisation contre le danger des mines et munitions non explosées” (“Annual Progress Report 2008 of the direction of awareness against the danger of mines and unexploded ordnance”); UNICEF, “MRE School Programme 2008–2009,” Internal document, April 2009, pp. 1–3; and CND, “Education au risque des mines, synthèse à mi parcours” (“Mine risk education, mid-term report”), December 2008, pp. 4–6.

[111] Interview with Sitack Yombatina Béni and Matthieu Laruelle, ICRC, N’Djamena, 16 April 2009; and email from Sitack Yombatina Béni, CND, 30 April 2009.

[112] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[113] Telephone interview with Fatimata Mahammad Hisseine, CND, 30 April 2009.

[114] See previous editions of Landmine Monitor.

[115] In 2008, Chad reported that up to December 2007, 2,632 casualties were recorded (1,143 killed and 1,489 injured). In 2009, Chad reported that from January to December 2008, 131 casualties were recorded (24 killed, 99 injured, and 8 of unknown status). See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 235; Landmine Monitor media monitoring from 1 January 2008–31 December 2008; Landmine Monitor analysis of CND, “Liste générale des victims des mines et autres engines non explosés/2008” (“General list of mine/ERW victims/2008”), provided by Assane Ngueadoum, CND, 15 April 2009; and email from Assane Ngueadoum, 22 May 2009.

[116] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[117] In 2008, Chad ranked 170 out of 179 countries in the Human Development Index. UNDP, “2008 Statistical Update: Chad,” 18 December 2008, hdrstats.undp.org; and see also statement of Chad, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 28 November 2008.

[118] See for example “Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Chad,” (New York: UN Security Council, 7 August 2008), S/2008/532; “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and in Chad,” (New York: UN Security Council, 12 September 2008), S/2008/601; and “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and in Chad,” (New York: UN Security Council, 14 April 2009), S/2009/199.

[119]“Chad: Cautious return for World Bank,” IRIN (Dakar), 16 January 2009, www.irinnews.org.

[120] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 237.

[121] Statement of Chad, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 28 November 2008.

[122] ICRC, “Annual Report 2008,” Geneva, 27 May 2009, p. 91; and see also Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p.238.

[123] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 237; and “Chad: Armed attacks blocking aid in the east,” IRIN (N’Djamena), 29 October 2008, www.irinnews.org.

[124] Statement of Chad, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 26 May 2009.

[125] Ibid.

[126] Landmine Monitor interviews with mine/ERW survivors in N’Djamena, 14–18 April 2009.

[127] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 238.

[128] Statement of Chad, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 28 November 2008.

[129] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, N’Djamena, 20 April 2009.

[130] Ibid, 28 May 2009.

[131] ICRC, “Physical Rehabilitation Programme: Annual Report 2008,” Geneva, 7 May 2009, p. 22.

[132] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 238.

[133] Statement of Chad, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 28 November 2008; and see Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 238.

[134] Landmine Monitor interviews with mine/ERW survivors, N’Djamena, 14–18 April 2009.

[135] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 238.

[136] UN, “2009 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, 4 December 2008, p. 86.

[137] UN, “Final Report, First Review Conference,” Nairobi, 29 November–3 December 2004, APLC/CONF/2004/5, 9 February 2005, p. 99.

[138] Statement of Chad, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 8 May 2006; and see also Landmine Monitor Report 2006, p. 284.

[139] See Landmine Monitor Report 2006, p. 284.

[140] See Landmine Monitor Report 2007, p. 252.

[141] Ibid.

[142] Statement of Chad, Eighth Meeting of States Parties, Dead Sea, 21 November 2007.

[143] See Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 239; and statement of Chad, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 28 November 2008.

[144] Statement of Chad, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 25 May 2009; interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009; and statement of Chad, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 28 November 2008.

[145] Interview with Assane Ngueadoum, CND, in Geneva, 28 May 2009.

[146] Co-Chairs of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, “Status of Victim Assistance in the Context of the AP Mine Ban Convention in the 26 Relevant States Parties 2005–2008,” Ninth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 28 November 2008.

[147] Ibid.

[148] Ibid.

[149] Ibid.

[150] ICRC, “Physical Rehabilitation Programme: Annual Report 2008,” Geneva, 7 May 2009, p. 22.

[151] ICRC, “Annual Report 2008,” Geneva, 27 May 2009, p. 92.

[152] Ibid, p. 93.

[153] MSF, “Chad: MSF continues emergency medical aid amidst fresh fighting,” 18 June 2008, www.msf.org; and MSF, “Deadly series of UXO incidents in Eastern Chad,” 5 August 2008, www.msf.org.au.

[154] Interview with Mahamat Awada, Secretary General, AEHPT, N’Djamena, 15 April 2009; and see Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 243.

[155] Interview with Mahamat Awada, AEHPT, 15 April 2009.

[156] Ibid.

[157] Article 5 deadline Extension Request, 29 July 2008, p. 37.

[158] Statement of Chad, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, 25 November 2008. Chad’s statement provides a conversion of $2,079,368.

[159] Statement of Chad, Ninth Meeting of States Parties, 25 November 2008.

[160] Article 5 deadline Extension Request, 29 July 2008, p. 36.

[161] “Japan gives an almost $8 million boost to UN mine clearing efforts in Africa,” UN News Center, 10 March 2009. www.un.org.

[162] Statement of Chad, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, 27 May 2009.

[163] Spain Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2009; emails from Kim Henrie-Lafontaine, Second Secretary, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, 6 and 19 June 2009; and Belgium Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2009.

[164] Article 7 Report, Form I, 1 July 2009.

[165] Ibid.