Table of Contents

Country Reports

LM Report 2005

Ethiopia

Key developments since May 2004: Ethiopia ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 14 December 2004 and the treaty entered into force for the country on 1 June 2005. In 2004, demining operations were conducted over a total of more than 10 square kilometers of land in Afar and Tigray regions; 478 antipersonnel mines, 67 antivehicle mines and 8,354 UXO were destroyed. A strategic plan for mine action was presented to the government in August 2005 for approval. Some 800,000 people received mine risk education during 2004. A favorable evaluation of the mine risk education program was published in July 2005. Mine/UXO casualties continued to be reported in 2004 and 2005. Ethiopia has been identified as one of 24 States Parties with the greatest needs and responsibility to provide adequate survivor assistance. The enlargement and renovation of five regional physical rehabilitation centers was completed.

Mine Ban Policy

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997, ratified it on 17 December 2004, and became a State Party on 1 June 2005. The Council of Ministers had approved ratification legislation on 24 September 2004. After parliament had also given approval, Ethiopia announced its ratification at the opening of the First Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty in Nairobi on 29 November 2004. The announcement was a highlight of the conference, as it left Somalia as the only sub-Saharan African country outside the treaty. Ethiopia formally deposited its instrument of ratification with the United Nations on 14 December 2004.

Ethiopia has not yet reported on any steps it has taken to implement the treaty through domestic measures, including penal sanctions, as required by Article 9 of the Mine Ban Treaty. Ethiopia’s first Article 7 transparency report is due 28 November 2005. At an event at the World Bank office in Addis Ababa on 1 March 2005 to commemorate the anniversary of the global entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official noted that the treaty’s “obligations are daunting unless there is adequate financial and technical support.”^[1]

A representative of the permanent mission of Ethiopia to the UN in Geneva attended the June 2005 intersessional meetings and made a statement on mine clearance. Ethiopia has not yet expressed its views on matters of implementation and interpretation related to Articles 1, 2 and 3, including joint military operations with non-States Parties, mines with sensitive fuzes and antihandling devices, and the appropriate number of mines retained for training purposes.

Production, Transfer and Stockpiling

Ethiopia has stated that it does not produce antipersonnel mines, and has not imported antipersonnel mines since the overthrow of the Mengistu regime in 1991.^[2]

The size of Ethiopia’s stockpile of antipersonnel mines is unknown, but must be declared in the country’s initial Article 7 report and destroyed by 1 June 2009 at the latest.

A November 2003 report by a UN expert panel on violations of the UN arms embargo in Somalia concluded that the arms embargo had been systematically violated and stated that landmines had been supplied from Ethiopia.^[3] Landmine Monitor asked the Ethiopian government for a response to this UN report, but did not receive a reply. A UN panel member told Landmine Monitor that it was uncertain if the mines were antipersonnel or antivehicle, and if the transfers were from the government or other sources. In September 2004, various faction leaders interviewed during an assessment mission to Somalia by the Swiss NGO Geneva Call also accused Ethiopia of providing landmines to militias in Somalia.^[4] Ethiopia has denied earlier charges of mine shipments into Somalia.^[5]

Use

There have been no reports of new use of antipersonnel mines by either government forces or non-state actors since the end of the border conflict with Eritrea in June 2000. However, a number of antivehicle mines were freshly laid in March and April 2005 along the border with Eritrea, according to Phil Lewis, Director of the Mine Action Coordination Center (MACC) of the United Nations Mission on Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE).^[6] Between 25 March and 28 April, three mines exploded and damaged trucks, while a fourth was discovered freshly covered. All the incidents took place close to Humrea, in the country’s far western border region; one mine was planted on a road used as a supply route for the Ethiopian army, while the others were on side roads. The UN said it did not know who planted the mines, which were reportedly Belgian-made.^[7]

Previous Landmine Monitor reports have discussed the use of antipersonnel mines during the border conflict by both sides.^[8] While still not openly acknowledging antipersonnel mine use, in April 2002 Ethiopia provided the UN with detailed maps of mines laid by Ethiopian forces in Eritrea during the conflict. UNMEE MACC has estimated that Ethiopia laid approximately 150,000 to 200,000 mines in Eritrea during the war.^[9]

Insurgents opposed to the government of Ethiopia, particularly the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), have reportedly used landmines in the past.^[10] While Landmine Monitor has not received any specific allegations of use in this reporting period, in June 2004, Kenyan Army personnel and police conducting a series of raids along the Ethiopian border recovered three cartons of landmines suspected of belonging to the OLF.^[11] It is not known if these were antivehicle or antipersonnel mines.

Landmine and UXO Problem

Ethiopia is affected by significant landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) contamination in many areas as a result of a series of internal and international armed conflicts dating back to 1935. The major periods of war in Ethiopia were: the Italian invasion (1935-1936), the Ogaden war between Ethiopia and Somalia (1977-1978), the border war with Sudan (1980), internal conflict (1975-1991), and the Ethiopian-Eritrean war (1998-2000).

The war with Eritrea resulted in significant contamination of Tigray region and, to a lesser extent, Afar. The Somali region is contaminated by mines and UXO remaining from the Ogaden war with Somalia. There have been unconfirmed reports that mine-laying continues on a small scale as part of banditry and fighting between warlords.

Mine Action Program

The primary role of the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) is implementation of mine action; it does not have a formal mandate to coordinate mine action in Ethiopia. There is an oversight body for EMAO, the Mine Action Supervisory Board, which includes representatives of the ministries of defense, foreign affairs, and finance and economic development.^[12] In August 2005, EMAO forwarded a draft strategic plan for mine action to the Prime Minister’s office. This contained a recommendation that EMAO be given a formal mandate for coordination of mine action and quality assurance of clearance operations.^[13]

EMAO was the sole mine/UXO clearance operator in Ethiopia in 2004 and through August 2005. In February 2004, Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) submitted a project proposal for a mine action program to the Ethiopian government. The final project document was agreed in September 2005^[14] but a memorandum of understanding and standard operating procedures were not concluded. NPA hoped that a mine detection dog capacity would be established by October 2005, followed by a technical survey capacity.^[15]

In coordination with local authorities, EMAO prioritizes land for clearance first if it is close to dwellings, second if it is used for agriculture, and third if it is land used for grazing.^[16]

In 2004, EMAO established an “integrated mine action capacity” to enhance its manual capacity; this includes mine detection dogs (three teams of two) and three machines (Bozena 4 mini-flails) in support of the manual demining teams.^[17] Machines are mainly used for ground preparation, although in the future they may be deployed for area reduction, especially in areas between the Eritrean and Ethiopian frontline trenches.^[18]

In 2005, there were four EMAO demining companies composed of three 18-member platoons each (one technical survey and two clearance platoons), working in Afar and Tigray regions. A quality assurance officer is attached to each company. Two additional companies (of four platoons each, one technical survey and three clearance), consisting of some 200 deminers in total, were being formed from engineers completing demining training in September 2005.^[19] In June 2005, at the intersessional Standing Committee meetings, Ethiopia announced that two mine clearance units, including a community liaison officer, would be deployed to the Somali region.^[20]

EMAO uses the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) for the storage of data from the Landmine Impact Survey.^[21] There is no comprehensive or systematic data collection mechanism in Ethiopia to accurately record casualties.

National standards for mine clearance operations were adopted in 2001, based on International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).^[22] In January 2005, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) assisted in a workshop on strategic planning and the development of national standards for mine risk education. As of August 2005, national standards for mine risk education had not been adopted.

Survey and Assessment

As of 30 September 2005, results of the Landmine Impact Survey (LIS), which was completed in early 2004 at a cost of some US$4 million, had not been approved by the Ethiopian government. EMAO expressed concern about the quality of data collected by some of the community surveys.^[23]

To finalize the LIS report, EMAO suggested that a team of representatives from the key stakeholders visit selected communities in three regions to verify data.^[24] In September 2005, an agreement was reached in Geneva whereby a joint mission from the Survey Action Center (SAC), EMAO, and NPA would visit 26 impacted communities to review the accuracy of survey data in the Afar, Somali and Tigray regions. The six-week mission was planned to start on 15 October 2005 and last for six weeks.^[25]

Landmine and UXO Clearance

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Ethiopia must destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 June 2015.

EMAO reported that, in 2004, 10.9 square kilometers of land were cleared, during which 478 antipersonnel mines, 67 antivehicle mines and 8,354 UXO were destroyed.^[26] It appears that manual mine clearance operations were conducted over about seven square kilometers, with a further 1.7 square kilometers of land being released through technical survey and roughly two square kilometers of battle area clearance.^[27] From 25 September 2004 to January 2005, mine detection dog teams searched and verified 294,464 square meters of land.^[28] From May 2002 to December 2004, a total of 15.5 square kilometers of land was cleared, destroying 1,156 antipersonnel mines, 119 antivehicle mines and 14,263 UXO.^[29]

Four deminers were injured during mine clearance operations in 2004; two suffered amputations. All deminers are insured; in case of injury or death, compensation amounts to a maximum of five years’ salary.^[30]

Mine Risk Education

Most mine risk education (MRE) is provided through community-based initiatives, by village and district level taskforces. These include representatives of health, educational and police services, community and religious leaders, which deal with a variety of issues in addition to MRE.

With UNICEF assistance, EMAO has developed an initial capacity for national coordination of MRE activities. The EMAO MRE department was established in March 2002 and operates a branch office in Mekele. In 2004 through to September 2005, community liaison officers operated in Gulomekeda, Ahferom, Tahtay Adiabo, Merebleke, Kafta Humera (Tigray) and Elidaar (Afar) clearance sites.^[31]

In 2004, approximately 800,000 people took part in MRE sessions in Ethiopia, 701,607 through Rehabilitation and Development Organization assisted projects, and a further 97,379 through other community-based initiatives.^[32] Organizations involved included the EMAO, UNMEE, Office of Rehabilitation and Social Affairs of Tigray (ORSA), Disaster Prevention Preparedness and Food Security Bureau of Afar, and the NGO Rehabilitation and Development Organization (RaDO). UNICEF provided technical and financial support to these organizations.

EMAO focused on community liaison support to communities in areas where mine clearance takes place. UNMEE operates three MRE teams in the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ), one of which operates on the Ethiopian side of the TSZ, attached to EMAO.^[33] As of August 2005, there were five community liaison officers employed by EMAO, attached to its demining teams. Community liaison officers inform communities of planned clearance activities, obtain details of how mines and UXO impact the communities, and feed this into the clearance plans.^[34] According to RaDO, the involvement of community liaison staff has resulted in improved cooperation with demining teams, reduced removal of minefield markers, improved respect for minefield fences and signs, and increased the number of suspect mines and UXO reported to EMAO teams.^[35]

During 2004, the ORSA/RaDO MRE program in Tigray region reached 576,518 people (of whom some 4,000 were receiving MRE for the first time). This included 86,881 students who received MRE in school, and approximately 132,000 non-school attending children. In addition, 224,406 people received MRE through community committees.^[36]

MRE in the predominantly nomadic Afar region, implemented by RaDO and the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness and Food Security Bureau of Afar, reached a total of 125,089 people in 2004 (some 39,000 for the first time). This included some 22,900 schoolchildren, 6,200 non-school attending children and 5,400 children attending koranic schools. MRE was provided to a further 97,379 people by imams in mosques, through informal sessions in market places, through the work of local taskforces and by newly trained village volunteers.^[37]

Planned handover of the MRE project from RaDO to the Office of Rehabilitation and Social Affairs of Tigray, and to the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness and Food Security Bureau of Afar, was delayed in 2005. As a result, the RaDO project was extended for six months, but as of July 2005 funding had been suspended by UNICEF, pending the outcome of the 2005 MRE evaluation.^[38]

In June 2004, EMAO together with UNICEF undertook a needs assessment of the program, incorporating a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) survey. This covered Tigray and Afar, the two regions in which MRE has taken place, with an assessment of Somali region which is believed to be mine-affected but which has not received MRE.^[39] In Tigray, 91 percent of those interviewed said they had received information on the dangers of mines and UXO. The most seen or heard medium was posters (80 percent), followed by public meetings (76 percent), radio (45 percent), information provided at mosques or churches (35 percent), through schools (31 percent) and through discussions with family and friends (23 percent). However, there was a substantial gender difference: far more men than women (66 percent to 34 percent) had heard MRE information on the radio, or were likely to discuss this issue with family and friends (63 percent to 38 percent). Likewise, more males than females obtained information via schools (58 percent to 42 percent), reflecting the greater likelihood that boys will attend school.

In Afar, 83 percent of those interviewed said they had received information on mines and UXO. Of these 62 percent report seeing posters, 42 percent attended public meetings, 20 percent had informal discussions with friends and family, 19 percent had discussions in the mosque led by religious leaders, while 18 percent heard MRE messages via radio.

In Somali region, 23 percent of respondents report discussions of mines and UXO in public meetings, while a further 18 percent report informally discussing mine and UXO problems with their families and friends. However, the vast majority stated that they had never received MRE training.^[40]

Despite the high level of safety suggested by the responses from Tigray, 10 percent indicated that mines/UXO were used by the community, either for purposes such as quarrying or digging wells, or in the case of UXO as a pounding instrument in the home. This suggests that dangerous practices are still carried out with regard to UXO.

In March 2005, an evaluation of the MRE program in Ethiopia was carried out by GICHD at the request of UNICEF. The evaluation concluded that the program was one of the world’s “more mature mine risk education programs,” but called for overall coordination to be strengthened and project management skills to be reinforced. The evaluation also recommended that existing efforts to prepare for possible emergencies should be increased.^[41]

Funding and Assistance

EMAO reported that some ETB35 million ($4,020,354) was expended by the government on demining in 2004.^[42] Four countries and the European Commission (EC) reported contributing funding totaling approximately $2,343,900 to mine action in Ethiopia in 2004:^[43]

• Canada: C$250,000 (US$192,057) to UNDP for national mine action capacity-building;^[44]
• EC: €1 million ($1,243,800) towards the Landmine Impact Survey;^[45]
• Germany: €110,000 ($136,818) to UNDP for an advisor; ^[46]
• Norway: NOK3,850,000 ($571,225) to UNDP; ^[47]
• UK: $200,000 to UNDP.^[48]

International funding in 2004 was similar to 2003 ($2.5 million).^[49] The MRE program continued to be funded in 2004 by the government ($23,530) and UNICEF ($315,000).^[50]

Landmine and UXO Casualties

In 2004, RaDO recorded 27 new mine/UXO casualties, including 11 people killed and 16 injured in Tigray and Afar; nine were children. Two casualties were reported in Afar and 25 in Tigray.^[51] This represents a decrease from the 39 new mine/UXO casualties reported by RaDO in 2003 (seven killed and 32 injured). However, there is no comprehensive or systematic ongoing data collection mechanism in Ethiopia. The Landmine Impact Survey indicated that at least 297 new mine/UXO casualties occurred in 2003 (125 killed and 172 injured).^[52]

Four deminers were injured during mine clearance operations in 2004; two suffered amputations.^[53]

In 2004, UNMEE MACC recorded 30 mine-related casualties in the TSZ and adjacent areas, including 13 people killed and 17 injured; six were under 18 years of age.^[54]

Casualties continue to be reported in 2005. From January to April, RaDO recorded 13 new mine/UXO casualties in Tigray, including one woman and two children, and four children injured in mine/UXO incidents in Afar. The majority of casualties are herders.^[55]

A 2004 survey indicated that 83 percent of mine/UXO casualties were male, with women making up a higher proportion of casualties in pastoral regions (20 percent in Somali and 24 percent in Afar) than in agricultural ones (eight percent in Tigray). As a percentage of casualties, children are more or less similar in Somali (32 percent) and Tigray (34 percent), with a noticeably lower percentage in Afar (23 percent).^[56]

The Landmine Impact Survey provided significantly higher mine casualty data than previously available. In total, the survey recorded 16,616 landmine/UXO casualties, including 9,341 people killed and 7,275 injured.^[57]

EMAO has the mandate to collect and analyze mine casualty data; however, the implementation of a comprehensive system, initially in the Afar and Tigray regions, is still under development.^[58]

Survivor Assistance

After announcing its ratification of the treaty at the First Review Conference, Ethiopia was subsequently identified at the conference as one of 24 States Parties with significant numbers of mine survivors, and with “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.^[59] Ethiopia participated in the Workshop on Advancing Landmine Victim Assistance in Africa, held in Nairobi from 31 May-2 June 2005. The workshop was hosted by the co-chairs of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, to assist States Parties in developing a plan of action to meet the aims of the Nairobi Action Plan in relation to mine victim assistance.

One mine survivor from Ethiopia participated in the Survivors Summit and First Review Conference and at the workshop in May–June 2005.

As part of its commitment to the Nairobi Action Plan, Ethiopia has identified some of its objectives for the period 2005-2009 to address the needs of mine survivors which include: establishing a continuous surveillance system for accurate data collection; conducting a needs assessment of survivors; establishing or strengthening clinics and services for rehabilitation and psychosocial support for mine survivors and other war victims; establishing or strengthening vocational training centers; improving access to formal education and vocational training; developing a strategic plan for mine victim assistance, in cooperation with relevant agencies and organizations.^[60]

In Ethiopia few hospitals are capable of performing emergency surgery and most health posts in the mine-affected areas do not have the capacity to provide emergency care to mine casualties.^[61]

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) continues to support the Ethiopian Red Cross Society to provide some civilian hospitals with medicines, equipment and surgical supplies to assist those injured in conflict, including mine casualties. In 2004, ICRC, with the Ministry of Health and the Afar Pastoralist Development Association, organized a three-month medical course for 12 community health workers in Afar region, and in Tigray region, rebuilt a war-damaged healthcare center in Fazi.^[62]

There are several centers providing physical rehabilitation and orthopedic devices; some are government-run and others are operated by NGOs. The Rehabilitation Affairs Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is responsible for coordinating rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities. The Emergency Demobilization and Reintegration Project (EDRP) included a component for the strengthening of regional prosthetic and orthotic centers and the establishment of a national rehabilitation center, with funding provided by a World Bank loan. In 2004, the enlargement and renovation of five regional physical rehabilitation centers was completed and a training course for physiotherapy assistants was completed as part of the EDRP. Also as part of the EDRP, ICRC continued teaching 20 students in the first 30-month prosthetics/orthotics diploma course in Addis Ababa. The course was due for completion in January 2005.^[63]

In 2004, ICRC provided support to the four government-run prosthetic/orthotic centers in Addis Ababa, Mekelle, Dessie and Harar. ICRC also supported the Arbaminch Rehabilitation Center for the full year, while support for the All Africa Leprosy, Tuberculosis and Rehabilitation Training Center (ALERT) Hospital, Cheshire Home Polio Center and Tibeb-Micili Land Orthopedic Center ended during 2004. Support included the supply of components and on-the-job training for prosthetic/orthotic technicians and physiotherapists. ICRC implements the Patients Support Services (PSS) program for war victims, including mine survivors, which reimburses the cost of services, transportation, accommodation and food, and the cost of the orthopedic device; more than 1,200 people benefited under the PSS in 2004. In 2004, the ICRC-supported centers assisted more than 4,000 people, produced 1,776 prostheses (948 for mine survivors), 2,316 orthoses (39 for mine survivors), and distributed 4,777 crutches and 80 wheelchairs. ICRC also subsidized the training of two technicians in prosthetics and orthotics at TATCOT in Tanzania.^[64]

The Addis Ababa Prosthetic Orthotic Center (POC) is a referral center for physical rehabilitation and operates an orthopedic workshop and physiotherapy department. It is also a training center for orthopedic technology and physiotherapy, which is conducted in partnership with ICRC. In 2004, the center assisted 2,263 people, including 516 landmine survivors, and produced 723 prostheses (515 for mine survivors) and 1,540 orthoses, and distributed 59 wheelchairs, 1,359 crutches, 12 assistive devices and 3,425 other aids. The annual budget for the program is ETB2.8 million ($321,628).^[65]

The Dessie Regional Rehabilitation Center provides physical rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities free of charge. The center works in partnership mainly with ICRC and Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF). In 2004, the center assisted 336 people, including 95 mine survivors, and produced 205 prostheses and 115 orthoses; 60 prostheses and 35 orthoses were for landmine survivors.^[66]

In 2004, the Harar Regional Rehabilitation Center reopened after being closed for renovation in 2003, and produced 243 prostheses, 32 orthoses, and 426 crutches.^[67] Mekelle Orthopedic, Physiotherapy Center of the Tigray Disabled Veterans Association produced 267 prostheses, 401 orthoses, and distributed 55 wheelchairs and 988 crutches.^[68]

The Arbaminch Rehabilitation Center, a local NGO, provides physical and medical rehabilitation services, socioeconomic reintegration and vocational training. Arbaminch also provides financial assistance to other groups working with persons with disabilities. In 2004, the center assisted 745 people and produced/distributed 80 prostheses (50 for mine survivors), 22 orthoses and 42 crutches (seven for mine survivors).  The center also provided social reintegration for 717 people, economic reintegration for 86 people and financial support for 68 people.  The annual budget of the project is ETB2.6 million ($298,655).^[69]

Addis Development Vision (ADV), working in partnership with Cheshire Services Ethiopia, POC and ALERT, is a local NGO providing medical and physical rehabilitation, and skills training for persons with disabilities, and early childhood development for disabled and destitute children. In 2004, ADV assisted 900 people, including 16 landmine survivors, and supplied 16 prostheses (five for mine survivors), 15 orthoses, two wheelchairs for mine survivors, and 80 crutches (three for mine survivors). The annual budget for the program is ETB2 million ($229,735).^[70]

Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation works with war-disabled, including landmine survivors, in the Amhara region, principally in the town of Dessie, as part of the OMEGA Initiative. VVAF supports a physiotherapy unit and gait-training area at the Dessie Regional Rehabilitation Center, and a community follow-up scheme. On 15 August 2005, the VVAF-supported Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs Bahir Dar Physical Rehabilitation Center opened to provide physiotherapy, prostheses, wheelchairs and other assistive devices for persons with disabilities living in remote parts of the Amhara region. The center employs Ethiopia’s first and only female ICRC-trained orthopedic technician. The project was supported by USAID through Pact Ethiopia.^[71]

RaDO works in Somali and Sudanese refugee camps and surrounding areas, providing psychosocial support, physical rehabilitation services, and orthopedic and other assistive devices to mine survivors and other disabled people. RaDO also provides counseling services to landmine survivors in Tigray.^[72]

The Landmine Survivors Network (LSN) program in Ethiopia uses community-based outreach workers, who are also amputees, to work with individual survivors to assess their needs, offer psychological and social support, and educate families about the effects of limb loss. The program also provides material support, prostheses and physiotherapy through referrals, and establishes social support groups and links survivors to job training and other economic opportunities. In 2004, LSN assisted 145 people, including 102 landmine survivors; services are free of charge. LSN also supplied 30 prostheses (18 for mine survivors), and one wheelchair and two crutches for mine survivors. LSN works closely with the Addis Ababa POC, hospitals conducting amputation surgery, Federation of Persons with Disabilities, Sport Federation for Persons with Disabilities, and Christian Relief and Development Association. LSN is also a member of the Community Based Rehabilitation Network (CBR) in Ethiopia.^[73]

There are reportedly about 70 NGOs working with persons with disabilities in Ethiopia. Other organizations assisting persons with disabilities or advocating for improved services in physical rehabilitation, social and economic reintegration, capacity-building and advocacy, include the Ethiopian Prosthetics-Orthotics National Professional Association, Handicap International, Handicap National-Action for Children with Disabilities, Ethiopian National Association of the Blind, Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf, Ethiopian National Association of the Physically Handicapped, Amhara Development Association and Tigray Development Associations.^[74]

The main technical base and prosthetic training center of the ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled (SFD) is located at the Addis Ababa POC. In 2004, 31 orthopedic centers in 13 African countries received raw materials and components, 25 centers in 11 African countries received technical and clinical support, and 10 one-month refresher courses for 50 technicians from 20 countries were provided under the program. SFD also funds prosthetic training in other African countries through the program, and sponsors two Ethiopian students to undertake a three-year course in prosthetics/orthotics at TATCOT in Tanzania.^[75]

Disability Policy and Practice

Ethiopia has legislation to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, including mine survivors; however, there is reportedly no mechanism to enforce the legislation. The Ethiopian Federation of Persons with Disabilities is an umbrella organization of the five national disability associations. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the federation coordinate disability issues at the national level.^[76]

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^[1] Tedla Desta, “50% of Ethiopia’s Landmass Under Landmine Threat,” Daily Monitor, 2 March 2005.

^[2] Ethiopia first made this statement in 1997. Dr. Fecadu Gadarmu, Ambassador to Canada, Statement to the Signing Ceremony for the Mine Ban Treaty, Ottawa, 3 December 1997, p. 2.

^[3] “Report of the Panel of Experts on Somalia Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1474 (2003),” delivered to the President of the Security Council on 4 November 2003 (S/2003/1035), paras. 136-137, pp. 31-32.

^[4] Geneva Call, “Landmines in Somalia, Report of the Geneva Call Follow-up Mission to Puntland, Hiran and Bakol Regions, 15-27 September 2004,” Geneva, 2005, p. 9. Landmine Monitor has received allegations of arms shipments from Ethiopia to Somalia in 2004 and 2005, but none specifically mention antipersonnel mines.

^[5] Landmine Monitor Report 2002, pp. 549-550; Landmine Monitor Report 2003, p. 517.

^[6] Interview with Phil Lewis, Program Manager, Mine Action Coordination Center (MACC), UNMEE, Asmara, 10 May 2005.

^[7] “Four injured by landmines along border with Eritrea,” IRIN (Addis Ababa), 28 April 2005. The four incidents were also noted in UN Security Council, “Report of the Secretary-General on Ethiopia and Eritrea,” S/2005/400, 20 June 2005, para 16.

^[8] Landmine Monitor Report 2000, pp. 159-161; Landmine Monitor Report 2001, pp. 208-210; Landmine Monitor Report 2003, p. 516.

^[9] Email from Phil Lewis, UNMEE MACC, 23 April 2002.

^[10] Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 161. The OLF claimed that it had mined roads between Kenya and Ethiopia, and some areas of northern Kenya.

^[11] “Suspects Arrested at Kenya-Ethiopian Border; Arms Cache Discovered,” Daily Nation (Nairobi), 19 June 2004.

^[12] Council of Ministers Regulations No. 70/2001; see also GICHD, “An Evaluation of the Mine Risk Education Program in Ethiopia,” Geneva, July 2005.

^[13] Information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, Director, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[14] Email from Adam Combs, Advisor, NPA, Oslo, 29 September 2005.

^[15] Email from Adam Combs, NPA, Oslo, 10 August 2005; information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[16] Information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[17] EMAO Quarterly Newsletter, February 2005, Vol. 1, No. 1; additional information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[18] Information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[19] Information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[20] Presentation by Ethiopia, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 14 June 2005; additional information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[21] Information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[22] Information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[23] Information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[24] Information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[25] Information provided by Mike Kendellen, Director for Survey, SAC, 19 September 2005, and email, 28 September 2005.

^[26] EMAO Quarterly Newsletter, February 2005, Vol. 1, No. 1.

^[27] Telephone interview with IMSMA and operations personnel at EMAO, 29 September 2005.

^[28] EMAO Quarterly Newsletter, February 2005, Vol. 1, No. 1.

^[29] EMAO Quarterly Newsletter, February 2005, Vol. 1, No. 1.

^[30] Information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[31] Information provided by Berhane Achame, MRE Department Head, EMAO, Addis Ababa, 23 August 2005; email from Orlaith Gallagher, Project Officer MRE, UNICEF, Ethiopia 29 September 2005.

^[32] Information provided by Ambachew Negus, National Mines Coordinator, RaDO, 25 April 2005.

^[33] Interview with Phil Lewis, UNMEE MACC, Asmara, 10 May 2005.

^[34] Information provided by Berhane Achame, EMAO, Addis Ababa, 23 August 2005.

^[35] Information provided by Ambachew Negus, RaDO, 25 April 2005.

^[36] Interview with Esayas Teklehaimanot, Tigray MRE Project Manager, RaDO, 20 April 2005.

^[37] Interview with Teshome Zewdie, Afar MRE Project Manager, RaDO, Semera, 25 April 2005

^[38] GICHD, “An Evaluation of the Mine Risk Education Program in Ethiopia,” Geneva, July 2005, p. 24.

^[39] Presentation by Ethiopia, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 14 June 2005.

^[40] Presentation by Ethiopia, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 14 June 2005.

^[41] GICHD, “An Evaluation of the Mine Risk Education Program in Ethiopia,” Geneva, July 2005.

^[42] Information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005. Average exchange rate for 2004: US$1 = ETB8.7057, used throughout this report. Calculated by Landmine from National Bank of Ethiopia Parallel Market Quarterly Averages.

^[43] Austrian contribution of €200,000 ($248,760) to ICRC for victim assistance pledged in 2003 was expended in 2004. This was included in Landmine Monitor Report 2004 as international funding for 2003.

^[44] Mine Action Investments database; emails from Elvan Isikozlu, Mine Action Team, Foreign Affairs Canada, June-August 2005. Average exchange rate for 2004: US$1 = C$1.3017. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2005.

^[45] EC, “Community’s Contribution to the Landmine Monitor 2005,” by email from Nicola Marcel, RELEX Unit 3a Security Policy, EC, 19 July 2005. Average exchange rate for 2004: €1 = $1.2438. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2005.

^[46] Article 7 Report, Form J, 15 April 2005; email from Dirk Roland Haupt, Federal Foreign Office, Division 241, 25 July 2005.

^[47] Article 7 Report, Form J, 28 April 2005; emails from May-Elin Stener, Department for Global Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, April-May 2005. Average exchange rate for 2004: $1 = NOK6.7399. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2005.

^[48] UNDP Mine Action, “Funding Update by Donors,” www.undp.org accessed 22 August 2005.

^[49] Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 894.

^[50] Presentation by Ethiopia, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva,14 June 2005.

^[51] Interview with Teshome Zewdie, RaDO, Semera, 25 April 2005; interview with Dirar Berhe, Tigray MRE Technical Officer, RaDO, Mekelle, 27 May 2005.

^[52] For more information see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 895-896.

^[53] Information provided by Etsay G. Selasie, EMAO, 23 August 2005.

^[54] Interview by Landmine Monitor (Eritrea) with Gerhard Bechtold, Chief of Information, UNMEE MACC, Asmara, Eritrea, 5 May 2005.

^[55] Interview with Teshome Zewdie, RaDO, Semera, 25 April 2005; interview with Dirar Berhe, RaDO, Mekelle, 27 May 2005.

^[56] UNICEF/EMAO, “Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance Needs Assessment Survey: Findings and Recommendations Afar, Somali and Tigray Regions,” June 2004, p. 9.

^[57] For more information, see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 895-896.

^[58] Presentation by Ethiopia, Workshop on Advancing Landmine Victim Assistance in Africa, Nairobi, 31 May-2 June 2005.

^[59] United Nations, Final Report, First Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, Nairobi, 29 November-3 December 2004, APLC/CONF/2004/5, 9 February 2005, p. 33.

^[60] Ethiopia presentation, Workshop on Advancing Landmine Victim Assistance in Africa, Nairobi, 31 May-2 June 2005.

^[61] For more information, see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 896.

^[62] ICRC, “Annual Report 2004,” Geneva, June 2005, pp. 75-76.

^[63] ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Geneva, July 2005, pp. 12, 19; see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 899.

^[64] ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Geneva, July 2005, pp. 19-20, 44. It should be noted that the statistics are a cumulative total of the workshops supported by the ICRC.

^[65] Information provided by Yohannes Berhanu, General Manager, Addis Ababa Prosthetic Orthotic Center, Addis Ababa, 25 April 2005.

^[66] Information provided by Daniel Kassa, Manager, Dessie Orthopedic Workshop, Dessie, 2 May 2005.

^[67] ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Geneva, July 2005, p. 19.

^[68] ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Program, “Annual Report 2004,” Geneva, July 2005, p. 19; for more information, see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 897.

^[69] Interview with Tafesse Chirbo, Director, Arbaminch Rehabilitation Center, Arbaminch, 21 September 2005; for more information see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 897.

^[70] Information provided by Adane Alemu, Director, ADV, Addis Ababa, 2 May 2005; see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 897-898.

^[71] “New Rehabilitation Clinic Offers Free Service to Those in Need,” VVAF press release, 15 August 2005; “Prosthetics help entire households walk away from poverty...,” ICRC, 25 May 2005. For more information, see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 898.

^[72] For more information, see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 898.

^[73] Information provided by Genet Tadesse, Social Worker, LSN Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, 5 May 2005; see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 898-899.

^[74] US Department of State, “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2004: Ethiopia,” Washington DC, 28 February 2005; see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 897-899; Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 556.

^[75] ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled, “Annual Report 2004,” Geneva, January 2005, pp. 12-13.

^[76] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 899; see also US Department of State, “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2004: Ethiopia,” Washington DC, 28 February 2005.