Gulu District Landmine/ERW Victims Survey Report

May 2006

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS------3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ------4 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ------5 SELECTED DEFINITIONS FROM IMAS GLOSSARY ------6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ------7 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ------10 1.1 Presence of mines/ERW in Northern Uganda ------10 1.2 Rationale and Objective of the research. ------11 2. RESEARCH METHODS AND OBSERVATIONS ------12 2.1 Study design and Population ------12 2.2 Survey preparation and Training ------12 2.3 Sample size ------12 2.4 Data collection ------13 3. RESULTS AND FINDINGS ------13 3.1 Study Profile ------13 3.2 Demographic characteristics ------14 4. DISCUSSION ------15 4.1.1 Activity at time of incident ------15 4.1.2 Location of the incident ------16 4.1.3 How often did the victim go there? ------17 4.2.1 Why did they go there? ------18 4.2.2 Did the victim know the place was dangerous? ------19 4.2.3 Were there reports of warning signs? ------19 4.2.4 What was the device that caused the incident? ------20 4.2.5 Injuries Vs Deaths ------20 4.3 Where was the location of death? ------22 4.4 Description of health facility ------22 4.5 Conclusion and Recommendations ------23 5. APPENDICES ------25 5.1 List of medical facilities that treated victims ------25 5.2 List of IDP Camps ------27 5.3 Landmine Victims data collection forms ------28 5.4 Map of Acholi land showing prevalence of mines ------30 5.5 Map of Gulu District Administrative Units ------31 5.6 Map of Gulu District IDP Breakdown ------32

2 ILLUSTRATIONS

Graphs

Graph 1: Number of mine victims from 1986 to 2006------10 Graph 2: Details about victims based on sex ------14 Graph 3: Age of victim at time of incident ------14 Graph 4: Age/Sex of victim at time of incident ------15 Graph 5: Location of the incident ------17 Graph 6: Why the victim went to the location of the incident ------20 Graph 7: Injuries Vs Death ------21 Graph 8: Victims with single injury------21 Graph 9: Victims with Multi injury ------33

Charts

Chart 1: Activity at the time of the accident ------16 Chart 2: How often did the victim go to the incident location ------18 Chart 3: The device that caused the incident ------20 Chart 4: Location of death ------21

Tables

Table 1: Category of people interviewed ------12 Table 2: Profiles of Counties sampled ------13 Table 3: Description of health facility ------23 Table 4: Mines and ERW recovered ------34

Photos

Photo 1: Mines are most time planted in places that target civilian------17 Photo 2: Mine warning signs ------19

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This survey was conducted in the Northern Uganda District of Gulu, from October 2005 to February 2006 by Gulu District Local Government Departments and AVSI Gulu field office.

AVSI would like to thank all the victims and survivors of landmine and ERW (explosive remnants of war) in Gulu District. AVSI is grateful to those survivors that participated in this survey for their time and patience. We hope that the findings of this survey will have a beneficial impact on their livelihoods.

This survey would not have been possible without the support and collaboration of Gulu District authorities, sub-county officials, camp leaders and their assistants and others. We thank them all for their precious collaboration, hospitality and help.

Furthermore, this exercise would not have been possible without the continuous and constant encouragement of all members of Gulu Mine Action Coordination group.

We would further like to acknowledge the vital contribution of the UPDF and Police in training data collectors. We are grateful for all your support.

A special thank to all the data collectors and interviewers for their good work.

Finally we thank ECHO for funding this survey that is the first of its kind in Acholi land.

4 List of Abbreviations/Acronyms

AVSI Associazione Volontari per il Servizio Internazionale APM Anti Personnel Mine ATM Anti Tank Mine DDMC District Disaster Management Committee DPO District Population Officer DRO District Rehabilitation Officer ECHO European Commission Humanitarian Office EOD Explosive Ordinance Disposal ERW Explosive Remnants of War GUSCO Gulu Support the Children Organisation ICBL International Campaign to Ban Landmines ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross IDP Internally Displaced Person IED Improvised Explosive Device IMAS International Mine Action Standards IMSMA Information Management System for Mine Action LL Lower Limb LMS Land Mine Survivors LRA Lord’s Resistance Army MRE Mine Risk Education NGO Non Governmental Organisation UL Upper Limb UNDP United Nations Development Programme UPDF Uganda Peoples Defence Forces UXO Unexploded Ordnances VA Victim Assistance

5 SELECTED DEFINITIONS FROM IMAS GLOSSARY

Booby trap an explosive or non-explosive device or other material deliberately placed to cause casualties when an apparently harmless object is disturbed or a normally safe act is performed.

Community liaison a process designed to place the needs and priorities of mine affected communities at the centre of the planning, implementation and monitoring of mine action and other sectors.

Demining activities that lead to the removal of mine and ERW hazards.

Explosive ordnance all munitions containing explosives. This includes bombs, mortar, warheads, and rockets.

ERW explosive remnants of war.

Fuse a devise which initiates an explosive train.

Hazard potential source of harm

Mine munition designed to be placed under or on or near the ground or other surface area to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person or a vehicle.

Mine accident an incident away from the demining workplace involving a mine or UXO hazard.

Mine action activities that aim to reduce the social, economic and environmental impact of mines and UXO.

Mine sign a sign which, when placed as part of a marking system, is designed to provide warning to the public of the presence of mines.

MRE a process that promotes the adoption of safer behaviour by at risk group

Munition a complete device charged with explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, initiating composition, or nuclear, biological or chemical material for use in military operations, including demolitions. (NB: in common usage munitions can be military weapons, ammunition and equipment).

Submunition any munition that, to perform its task, separates from a parent munition. Mines or munitions that form part of a cluster bomb, artillery shell or missile payload.

Survivor/victim an individual who has suffered harm as a result of a mine or UXO accident.

Unexploded ordnance explosive ordnance that has been primed, fused, armed or otherwise prepared for use or used. It may have been fired, dropped, launched, or projected yet remains unexploded either through malfunction or design or any other reason.

6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. Background For the last 20 years, the Acholi region of Northern Uganda has suffered from continued armed conflict that has led to contamination of mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). Although the number of mines present in Uganda is less than other mine-affected countries (Afghanistan, Angola, Mozambique, Iraq, etc.), the nature of mine use has created a difficult problem to address. There is little or no information1 on the location or suspicion of mines because such ordnances have been used on an ad hoc basis. Most of the landmines are found in remote areas with no reliable records as to their exact location. The number and location of mines placed in northern Uganda are not known, but efforts at mapping2 and injury reports have shown that the districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader known as “Acholi-land”, are the most affected (See map 1 Pg 30). Reports from the community have shown that these weapons are typically deployed in fields, near villages and towns, on roads, around wells, schools, health facilities and even in individual homes. Mines & ERW do not represent the major threat in Acholi land and they are not a major constraint to the resettlement and return of 1.4 million IDPs in Northern Uganda. However, the prevalence of mines and ERW must not be ignored as their presence leads to significant health, social, environmental and economic impacts. Besides killing and disabling individuals, landmines and ERWs still represent a potential danger to the Acholi community.

The Government authorities together with mine action-working groups expressed the need of having more information and better knowledge regarding the pollution of mines/ERW in Northern Uganda. For this reason, AVSI decided to carry out the “Landmine/ERW victims survey in Gulu District”. The main objective of the research is to accurately identify landmine and ERW victims in Gulu District, noting the conditions that led to the incidents, details about the victims, and specific areas where the incidents occurred.

II. Methods This survey was designed to be representative of all Sub-Counties of Gulu District and canvassed 53 IDP camps3. Teams of interviewers administered a structured questionnaire adapted from the IMSMA4 landmine victim form that was translated into the Acholi language and was to be completed by the landmine survivors, and relatives of those who were killed in landmine/ERW accidents. Results were analysed jointly for the entire Gulu District.

1 Information at hand on landmine has only been obtained after civilian incident involving vehicles or bicycles or from data collected by health facilities. 2Map is a result of efforts by AVSI Gulu Office and European Union- Acholi program at mapping prevalence of mines in Acholi land. 3 See list of IDP Camps – Appendix 5.2 Pg 27 4 Information Management System Mine Action

7 III. Main findings Through the survey it was discovered that accidents have occurred in different settings and by different ordinances (e.g. some of the survivors were injured while travelling on foot, others in vehicles e.t.c). The main survey findings for Gulu District are summarised below: 0 A total of 1,387 incidents were identified. Of which 57% were injuries and 38% deaths. 0 Majority of landmine/ERW victims are males (70%) and 30% females. 0 72% of landmine/ERW victims are adults, 4% children less than 10 years, 13% from 10 to 18 years and 12% above 60 years. 0 38% of mine/ERW accidents occurred while travelling on foot while 12% occurred to those travelling in vehicles. 0 Out of the 1,387 incidents, 33% occurred along village footpaths and 24% along roads/routes commonly used by the villagers. 0 Out of all the people interviewed (survivors or relatives of the ones killed), 84% were not aware that the location of incident was dangerous. 0 One of the paramount reasons given by victims as to why they went to the incident site even when they knew it was dangerous was economic necessity with 52%, and 19% citing no other access. 0 Of the device that caused the incident, anti-personnel mine (APM) constituted 61%, other ERW 17%, and anti-tank mines (ATM) made up 11%. 0 Less than half of all deaths occurred in health facilities (20%) while 61% was on site. 0 72% of casualties sought medical help from the main hospitals, 22% from health centres and 6% from private clinics.

From the above findings, it comes to notice that many of the incidents occurred to people travelling on foot and it’s also apparent that APM are responsible for majority of death among the mine/ERW victims.

IV. Key Recommendations In order for mine/ERW related accidents to be properly addressed, there’s need for all members of the Uganda Mine Action Program (both government and non government bodies) to continue developing and implementing MRE, VA and advocacy related activities. Crucial will also be a quick deployment of UPDF and Police officers trained in demining in Northern Uganda. The following are some key recommendations:

a. To strengthen community-based approach in sensitising the community on dangers of landmines to guarantee sustainability of the programme.

b. To Support and strengthen landmine survivors’ involvement in MRE sensitisation, advocacy (nationally and internationally) and victims assistance related activities.

8 c. To emphasise direct involvement of government structures e.g. the UPDF and Police in demining exercise and sensitisation of local community on dangers of landmines/ERW (as it is already mentioned by the “National Policy on IDPs”). d. To facilitate continuous funding for the Northern Uganda crisis, by focusing on life saving interventions and allocating sufficient resources to projects like demining, EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) and mine clearance that should start as soon as possible. e. To scale up and consolidate or improve capacity of health services to treat and rehabilitate mine/ERW victims. f. To encourage similar exercise in the other contaminated districts in Northern Uganda. This is the first data collection programme of its kind in northern Uganda and therefore is a first step in building a data management system. g. To improve coordination and data sharing between all agencies, NGOs and government bodies working in Mine Action related sectors. h. To support landmine/ERW survivors to improve their standards of living through economic empowerment and social reintegration programmes.

9 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.1 Presence of Mines/ERWs in Northern Uganda For the past 20 years, northern Uganda has been the theatre of an armed conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan Government - a war in which civilians have suffered the greatest number of casualties. According to the collected data, the use of mines escalated in 1994 (see Graph 1), when the LRA intensified its activities in Northern Uganda.

Graph 1: Number of mine victims from 1986 to 2006

350 310

300

250 s t n e d i c

n 200 i

f o

o N 150 134 109 89 100 81 70 69 66 40 49 50 34 29 28 29 31 27 23 15 22 17 18 6 0

rs 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 a 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 e 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Y 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 s u io v re P Year

Among the most dangerous weapons in armed conflict, mines are easy and cheap to plant but extremely difficult and costly to remove. If not cleared, mines and ERW continue to kill or mutilate long after the conflict has ended. A mine planted and ERW left in suitable conditions can last for decades, maiming, killing and disrupting the social and economic life of affected communities. After a review of hospital records from northern Uganda from July 1998 to February 2006, AVSI and the Gulu Regional Orthopaedic Workshop were able to identify mines and ERW as the major cause of injury and disability in the region. They accounted for nearly 20% of all injuries in northern Uganda over a six-year period. In this same period, 46.2% of amputations due to war-related injury were performed as a result of mines. Nearly 70% of mine survivors in northern Uganda are males, and 2/3 is between the ages of 18 and 45.

10 Of the more than 1,000 amputees identified in the study by Gulu Orthopaedic workshop and AVSI, more than 40% were due to war-related trauma and were fitted with prostheses at Gulu Regional Orthopaedic Workshop, which serves several regions of Uganda as well as patients from southern Sudan. While the work done through the orthopaedic workshop has been extremely significant for mine/ERW survivors and persons with disabilities (PWD), the broader population remains unsure of how to avoid death or injury due to mines and ERW. The government of Uganda has pledged its commitment in responding to the issue of mines and ERW. Uganda is a state party to the international Mine Ban Treaty, which bans the production, stockpiling, transfer and use of antipersonnel mines. The treaty also requires the implementation of a Mine Action Programme that includes surveying, mapping, de-mining, victim assistance, MRE and advocacy. In 2004, under the Office of the Prime Minister/Department for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees and the UNDP, a national working group was convened to coordinate the response to the problem of mines and ERW in the country. The group serves as a coordinating and regulating body as well as a forum for discussion on mine action strategies and sharing of ideas. This has led to the establishment of the Mine Action Programme of Uganda, which is coordinated by the UNDP, and to which AVSI is an integral member.

2.1 Rationale and Objective of the research This survey has been organized by AVSI in cooperation with the Gulu District Population Office, Gulu District Rehabilitation Office and it has been funded by ECHO (European Commission Humanitarian Office). The overall goal for Landmine/ERW Victims Survey in Gulu District is to accurately identify landmine/ERW victims in Gulu District, noting the conditions that led to the incidents, details about the victims, and specific areas where the incidents occurred. It is the intention of both Gulu District Local Government and AVSI that the collection of data on landmine incidents continues so long as landmine incidents occur in the District. Only with constant monitoring and reporting will the data remain accurate and useful to the prevention of injury and death. This study has been designed to assist both first-round data collectors and to provide a tool to District officials (DDMC, DRO e.t.c.), law enforcement, community leaders, and medical personnel for the continued collection and reporting of incidents in the area. Through constant vigilance and a clear reporting of events, not only can every victim of landmines be accounted for but their tragic accidents can also be used to improve the safety and security of the people of Northern Uganda.

11 2. METHODOLOGY OF THE RESEARCH AND OBSERVATIONS

2.1 Study Design and Population The aim of this survey was to determine the locations of incidents of landmines and the number of landmine survivors in Gulu District. AVSI Landmine/ERW Victim Survey is the first comprehensive snapshot of the impact of landmines and ERW on the population of Acholi land and Gulu District in particular. AVSI, working closely with the District Population Office (DPO), utilised a system of data collection that focused on training IDPs, including landmine survivors themselves, to search their own communities for those affected by landmines and ERW. This data collected has been examined and evaluated to ensure accuracy and confidentiality for interviewees. This strategy has not only empowered community-ownership of the data but also eased in the identification of cases.

2.2 Survey Preparation and Training 5 teams composed of 20 interviewers carried out the research from October 2005 to February 2006. Interviews with landmine survivors and relatives of landmine victims were conducted in the following counties: Aswa, Kilak, Nwoya, Omoro and Gulu Municipality. A one day training was conducted for all the interviewers in each of the counties, after which, their skills were evaluated during a one day pilot study within Gulu municipality. A team composed of AVSI technical staff, district personnel, UPDF and Police officers, facilitated the training. The survey was carried out based on a modified IMSMA (Information Management System for Mine Action) landmine victim questionnaire. To facilitate easy understanding of the questionnaires, they were translated from English to Acholi language and all interviews to landmine survivors and relatives of landmine victims were conducted in vernacular language.

2.3 Sample Size The survey canvassed 53 IDP camps as well as Gulu Municipality composed of 4 divisions. The research further focused on those affected by mines/ERW from 1986 to 2006. Within that time period 1,387 incidents were reported or interviewed accordingly.

Table 1: Category of people interviewed Landmine and ERW survivor 853 Relatives of Landmine and ERW victims5 534 Total number of respondents 1,387

5 Close relatives were interviewed to provide information for those who were killed by landmines and ERWs.

12 2.4 Data Collection The interviewers administered questionnaires to either the landmine survivor or a close relative in case of those who were killed during the mine accident. The interviewers explained the purpose of the survey to the respondents and only proceeded with questioning if oral consent was given. They were instructed to assure respondents of data confidentiality and the voluntary nature of answering questions. They also informed respondents that the survey was unconnected to food relief or that no immediate benefit would be available from taking part in the survey.

3. RESEARCH RESULTS

3.1 Study Profile Data collection began in October 2005 and ended in February 2006. During which 1,300 respondents were interviewed in the 5 counties of Gulu District. And 87 from other districts like Pader, Kitgum, Lira, Apac and Southern Sudan.

Table 2: Profiles of Counties sampled Counties Male Female Total Casualties Aswa 173 80 253 Kilak 253 142 395 Gulu Municipality 37 22 59 Nwoya 216 87 303 Omoro 215 75 290 Other Districts 66 21 87 Totals 960 427 1,387

Kilak County being largest, most populated and heavily affected by rebel and military operations in Gulu District (see Appendices 5.6 Pg 32) had the highest number of incidents (395); Gulu municipality had the lowest number of incidents; some of the reasons could be because LRA has more difficulties in accessing the town due to a heavier presence of the army. In addition, whenever rebels pass next to town they need to be quick, so they rarely have enough time to plant mines. Furthermore, during the past years only few battles occurred between UPDF and LRA within the municipal area. Though there are a few reports of mines planted in the peripheral areas of town (mostly Bungatira and Pece divisions). The 87 victims from other districts were patients trickling into the district seeking better health facilities or because they were referred by health facilities from their home districts.

13 3.2 Demographic Characteristics Gulu District has a total population of 468,407 of which 416,254 is spread throughout the 53 IDP camps in the district6 and out of this population, according to statistics acquired from the survey, the total number of accidents due to landmines is 1,387. Of which 960 are listed as males and 427 females. Of the 960 males, 577 are listed as injuries while 383 are deaths and out of the 427 females, 276 are listed as injuries while the other 151 were killed by landmines.

Graph 2: Details about the Victims based on sex

2000 383 s

e 1500 577 s a c

f 1000 151 o 276 960 o

N 500 427 0 Female Male Sex

No of cases Injuries Deaths

Of the 1,387 casualties, 1,300 were from Gulu District, 27 from Kitgum District, 26 from Pader District and others were from the out lying Districts of Lira, Apac, Moyo, Ajdumani, Masindi and Moroto. While some were from as far as Southern Sudan, Juba and Torit.

Graph 3: Age of victim at time of the incident

350 321

300 271 s

t 250

n 203 e d

i 200 c n i

135 f 150 o

o 96 96

N 100

50 14 23 0 Below 5 5- 10 yrs 11- 20 yrs 21-30 yrs 31-40 yrs 41-50 yrs 51-60 yrs Above 60 Age group

228 of the respondents could not remember their dates of birth. So the data in this section is for the 1,159 who could accurately remember how old they were and their dates of birth. Among the people interviewed, it can be seen that there are more mine accidents involving

6 Total population taken from provisional results of 2002 Uganda Population and Housing Census; Displaced population taken from the WFP/NRC IDP Camp data status report for verification exercise 2004.

14 active adults in the age bracket of 31-40 years of age (321) and those between 21-30 (271) compared to the lower proportions shown among the younger people of less than 10 years (37) and those above 60 years (96).

Graph 4: Age/Sex of Victim at time of incident

250 231

200 191 s

t 150

n 150 e d i c n i

f 99 o

100 90 o 80 N

58 59 53 50 36 38 39

14 9 5 9 0 Below 5 5- 10 yrs 11- 20 yrs 21-30 yrs 31-40 yrs 41-50 yrs 51-60 yrs Above 6 0

Age Group

Male Female

Age/sex graph in the surveyed population reveals higher numbers of landmine/ERW incidents among adult male and female members of society, most evident in the 31 to 40 age group. There appears to be a decrease in the number of incidents among females over 40 years of age, while there is an almost even number of incidents among the males and females who were aged below 10.

4. DISCUSSION 4.1 Data about the victim

4.1.1 Activities at time of incident One of the factors taken into consideration by the research is the identification of the activity the victim was involved in at the time of the landmine incident and include tasks like tending/herding animals, hunting/fishing, farming, collecting wood/water, collecting food from either the fields or the granary, cooking, going to bath at water point, play, go to school or travelling on foot or bicycle or vehicle to the market place or other destinations. These are activities essential for the inhabitants’ survival within the community. Since the most easily accessible and affordable means of mobility is on foot, the greatest number of mine/ERW

15 accidents (38%) occurred while travelling on foot while the percentage of those who suffered mine/ERW accidents while travelling in vehicles is 12%. 14% of mine/ERW accidents happened to survivors who were either standing nearby or walking near the landmine and those farming or in the fields were 10%. From Chart 1 below it can be seen that the greatest number of casualties occurred among civilians and 3% of the casualties occurred among the military7.

Chart 1: The activity the victim was involved in at the time of the incident.

Tampering with Collecting device: food/wood/water: 3% Playing/recreation: 4% 3% Military: Hunting/fishing/herdi Others: 3% ng animals: 6% 3% Riding a bicycle: 4% Farming: 10%

Travelling by Travelling on foot: Vehicle: 12% 38% Passing/Standing near: 14%

4.1.2 Location of the incident One of the survey objectives was also to find out the location of the landmine /ERW accident. It was found out that out of the 1,387 incidents, 459 incidents occurred along village footpaths and 24% of the incidents occurred along roads/routes commonly used by the villagers; 20% of the incidents occurred around fields, 11% around the homes (IDP camps and villages) and 9% around water points. 3% of the incidents occurred around a military site. This information clearly indicates that mines are mostly planted in places that target civilian population and usually within close proximity of human settlement that are sometimes used by fighting forces as battlefields.

7 The survey focused on civilian population; therefore the number of landmine/ERW accidents to military personnel recorded is not representative of all military landmine/ERW casualties.

16

Photo 1: Landmines are most times planted in places that target civilian population like gardens, water points, market places, homes, fields and fishing grounds, access routes e.t.c.

Graph 5: Location of the Incident

No of incidents 500 459 450 400 339 350 300 250 166 151 200 128 150 100 35 39 27 16 11 50 4 3 0

t e s p g th d ld e n it r h y n a a e m i s e d m s r i p o i o o th n a u to ld t R F p ry u C B c i o H r a O ro a u o te it P F b F il yg t a a I D n W m l - e d p - n - e m k u l g rn n o o la e a r o il v rb A h V o e c g v S d i n R u ro Area of incident A

4.1.3. How often did the victim go there? This question refers to how often the victim went to the location of the incident. Since the landmine/ERW accidents occurred during the course of carrying out activities necessary for the everyday survival of the local people within the community, we see that 30% of the casualties were in places where people went several times a week e.g. to health facilities, fields, water points and markets (18% deaths and 22% injuries). 27% of the interviewees said they went to the incident place at least once a day and out of these there were 27% deaths and 26% injuries. While 19% of the casualties had never before been to the place of incident,

17 22% went there more than once a day and for the 2%, the number of times they went to the place of incident is unknown.

Chart 2: How often did the victim go to the incident location?

Unknown Never before 2% 19% Several times 30%

More than 22% Once a day 27%

4.2.1 Why did they go there? This question was asked to better understand why the survivor went to the location of incident or if they were aware that it was dangerous. Of the 853 land mine survivors, 254 answered as to why they went to the place of incident. Economic necessity was paramount, with 52% involved in petty businesses or trade, and another 19% citing no other access as a consequence of that being the only road available or fear of using another route due to suspected rebel activities in the area.

Graph 6: Why did the victim go to location of the incident?

160 134

140

120

100

No of incidents 80 48 42 60 30 40

20

0 Economic No other acess Peer Pressure Other necessity

18 However, 17% of the respondents answered that they went there because of peer pressure and of this number 30% were school children. 12% of the respondents went there because of other reasons like escape from rebel captivity, LRA pressure or were simply playing.

4.2.2 Did the victim know the area was dangerous? This is an important component of the survey to understand the perception of danger towards mines and ERW. The question asked the respondents was whether they knew that the incident location was dangerous. And out of the 1,387people interviewed 1,165 were not aware that the area was dangerous. This can be attributed to lack of mine warning signs at the site of incident. Of these 72% were killed. Though 4% of the 1,387 respondents said they knew the place was dangerous they still went there because of peculiar reasons (See 4.2.1). Of the 4%, 29% were killed and 71% sustained injuries. However its not known as to whether 12% of the 1,387 landmine/ERW victims knew that the place was dangerous, because 80% of them were killed as a result of the mine accident.

4.2.3 Reports of Warning Signs. 1,312 interviewees explained how there were no mine warning signs at the time of the incident. 3 interviewees reported the existence of local warning signs i.e. crossed sticks at the place of incident, 45 reported the presence of official signs, and 27 did not know (unknown).

Photo 2: Local mine warning signs like crossed sticks, leaves or stones should be placed at the incident site to warn others of potential danger.

Of the 1,312 respondents who reported no warning signs, 60% were injured, while 39% were killed as a result of landmines or ERW.

19 4.2.4 What was the device that caused the incident? While the UPDF discovered and removed a great number of mines and ERW in 2001 and 2002, the number of mines recovered in 2003, 2004 and 2005 was greater than that of the previous years (Table 4: Pg 34. ERW recovered by UPDF). There is a suspected great number of mines and ERW threatening the lives civilian population. The survey shows that anti-personnel mines constituted 61%, ERW 17%, and anti-tank mines made up 11% of devices that were a cause of death or injury. See Chart 3 below for specifics. Since the most common mode of transport within the communities is travelling on foot, it’s noted that Anti-personnel mines were responsible for 62% of all deaths, and 60% of all injuries sustained by the survivors of landmines.

Chart 3: The device that caused the incident

Cluster munition Unknown 3% Other device 6% 2% ERW 17%

Anti-tank mine Anti-personnel 11% mine 61%

4.2.5 Injuries Vs Deaths Landmines and ERW can cause various injuries to individuals including loss of limbs, abdominal, chest and spinal injuries, blindness, deafness and less visible psychological trauma- not only to the person injured in the incident, but to the family of those killed and injured.

20 Graph 7: Injuries Vs Death

852

900 800 535 700 600 No of 500 incidents 400 300 200 100 0 Injuries Deaths Condition of Victim

From the survey, 57% of the identified casualties had lost their lower limbs (Leg above knee 27%, leg below knee plus foot and toes 30%), while 33% had suffered injury to their upper limbs, and other body parts (head, abdomen, chest, pelvis and groin plus lower back) and 7% of the casualties sustained minor injury to the whole body. A total of 2.7% of the casualties lost their eyesight while 0.3% lost their hearing functions.

Graph 8: Victims with Single Injury

Victims with single injury

200 177 180 160 141 s

m 140 i t

c 120 i v

100 f

o 80 51 o 60 N 40 22 11 20 7 1 1 1 0 Leg above Leg below UL above UL below Eyes Chest Hearing Chin Mouth knee knee elbow elbow Type of injury

Out of the 853 injuries 412 sustained single injuries and 157 sustained multiple injuries. Of the single injuries, the most dominant are injuries above the knee (217) followed by 200 victims with injuries below the knee. Of the 157 victims with multi injuries, 23 have injuries above the knee, below the knee plus foot/toes; followed by victims with injuries to the whole body (20); this is soft tissue injury and does not usually result into permanent disability. 73% of victims

21 with multi injuries had been affected in the leg either above or below the knee; 13% had injuries to the arms while 12% had injuries all over the body and those with injuries to the head were 2%. (Refer: Graph 9: Victims with Multi injuries Pg 33.) There were 530 deaths i.e. 38% of all casualties. Although adults caught in an anti-personnel mine often survive though they suffer lifelong disability; but the physical limitations can be kept to a minimum with correct treatment and assistance.

4.3 Where was the location of death? Out of the 535 incidents of death, 61% occurred immediately on site, while 11% occurred during transportation to a health facility and 20% occurred at the health facility. Where as 8% of deaths occurred in locations unknown, at home or after release from the health facility. Anti-personnel mines caused 60% of deaths on site; while ERW was responsible for 16% of death and anti-tank mines are responsible for 14% of all deaths on site. 11% of death occurred during transportation to the hospital as a result of the health facilities being a distance away from the site of the incident and also because of poor means of transport.

Chart 4: Location of death

Location of Death

Unknown Others Health facility 3% 5% 20%

During transport 11% On site 61%

4.4 Description of Health Facility The aim of this question was to determine the victim’s access to health facilities, as some health units were closed down or only partly functional during certain years of the conflict. Almost half of the interviewees who sustained injury went on to seek medical help from Hospitals, mainly St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor in Gulu (72%). Another group went directly to Health Centres (22%), while 6% went to Private Clinics mostly within the Municipality.

22 A total of 708 of the interviewees who were injured sought medical help from a health facility, 64% of those who sought help from the health facilities died either at or after leaving the health facility.

Table 3: Description of Health Facility reached by Landmine Victims. Health Facility No of Incidents Private Clinics 54 Health Centres 203 Hospitals 680 Total 637

4.5 Conclusion and Recommendations The first consideration regards the overall number of mine/ERW incidents recorded that have occurred in Gulu District. During the course of the past years, the Mine Action Group in Gulu District had underestimated it (based on the knowledge of severely injured people in the district). This survey indicates that the total number of landmine and ERW victims is far greater than what the organisation had estimated.

In addition, many of the victims were only previously identified according to serious disabilities acquired due to the trauma (amputation, blindness, etc.) while others with minor injuries were basically neglected. This research has shown for the first time not only that the number of victims is higher than what was previously considered but also that the number of injuries surpasses what was initially estimated. Further information that was not available was the number of deaths; this is the first report on the number of deaths due to mines and ERWs in Northern Uganda. The problem of mines/ERW can be prevented by interventions through sensitisation of the community and improving health and social services to victims. For this reason it is imperative that all partners in mine action in northern Uganda work together to: • Develop a community-based approach to MRE and victim assistance related activities. A key component will be the empowerment of an institutional network that involves all stakeholders, including district administrators, NGOs, hospitals, schools and Community leaders and to emphasise direct involvement of government structures e.g. the UPDF and Police. It is imperative to have a sustainable project that will educate all who might be affected; since it has been found that communities respond favourably to the sensitisation programmes and regard it as important to their eventual settlement and movement to previously abandoned areas due to the decongestion exercise. • Support and strengthen landmine survivors’ involvement in sensitisation MRE and to impart on the other survivors the knowledge and skills to support themselves.

23

• Greatly increase funding for northern Uganda crisis, by focusing on life saving interventions and allocating sufficient resources to projects like demining, EOD and landmine/ERW clearance which should start as soon as possible. • To scale up and consolidate or improve capacity of health services to treat and rehabilitate mine/ERW victims.

• To encourage similar exercise in the other contaminated districts in Northern Uganda. This is the first data collection programme of its kind in northern Uganda and therefore it is a first step in building a data management system.

• To support landmine/ERW survivors to improve their standards of living through economic empowerment and social reintegration programmes.

24 5. Appendices 5.1 a) A List of Health Facilities reached by Landmine victims in Gulu District. DISTRICT COUNTY HEALTH FACILITY NO OF CASUALTIES Palaro Health Centre 2 Awach Health Centre IV 8 ASWA Ajulu Health Centre 1 Cwero Health Centre III 1 Labworomor Health 3 Centre III Patiko Health Centre III 3 Amuru Health Centre III 5 Ataik Health Centre IV 3 Awer Health Centre II 1 KILAK Olwal Health Centre II 2

Lacor Health Centre III 2 GULU Pabbo Health Centre III 4 Pabbo Army Health Unit 1 St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor 527 Gulu Referral Main 144 Hospital St. Jude Health Centre 1 Gulu Independent 6 MUNICIPALITY Hospital 4th Division Hospital 1 Gulu Military Hospital 1 Obiya Health Centre 1 The Doctor Cane Clinic 2 Alero Health Centre III 2 Anaka Hospital 60 NWOYA Koch Goma Health 2 Centre III Acet Health Centre II 1 OMORO Opit Health Centre III 5 Army Mobili clinic 3

25 b) A list of Health Facilities from other Districts reached by landmine victims.

OTHER HEALTH FACILITY NO OF CASUALTIES DISTRICTS Acol piito Health Centre 1 Palabek Health Centre 1 Kitgum Main Hospital 15 Kitgum Mission Hospital 5 Lira Referral Hospital 10 Angal Hospital 1 Askull Hospital 1 Atapara Hospital 8 Juba Hospital 7 Kalongo Hospital 6 Khartoum Hospital 4 Lacek ocot Clinic 2 Mbuya Military Hospital 1 Mulago Main Hospital 2 Moroto Hospital 1 Ngomoromo Health Centre 1 Omduruman Health Centre 1 Ot yat Rwot 1 Rizar Hospital 1

26 5.2 List of IDP Camps in Gulu District where incidents occurred. COUNTY IDP CAMP

ASWA Pakwelo Lugore

Palaro Pawel Patiko Awach Paicho Palukere Lukome Coope Unyama Cet Kana Cwero NWOYA Anaka Wii Anaka

Alero Olwiyo Purongo Lolim Agung Koch Goma KILAK Amuru Atiak

Keyo Olwal Jeng Gari Parabongo Pabbo Pagak Awer Palukere Bibia Pawel Labongo Gali OMORO Minakulu Odek

Palenga Acet Koro Awere Bobi Lalogi Opit Adak

27 LANDMINE VICTIMS DATA COLLECTION FORM

DO NOT WRITE IN GREY SHADED AREAS

GENERAL INFORMATION Incident ID Entry date

Date report received Entered by

Data gathered by Reported by

Date of report Date and time of incident

Contact details of reporting organization

LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT Home Street/highway School Village/camp

Factory Field Riverbank Footpath

Around a government building Around a military site Sportsfield Other (Explain):

District

Sub-district

Nearest town/village Km Direction

DATA ABOUT THE VICTIM Family name

Other names

Sex: Male Female Date of birth

Nationality Occupation

Address

INJURIES Was the person injured or killed: Killed Injured

Location of death (if killed): On site During transport At health care facility

Other (Explain)

DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES Loss of: Other injuries:

Eyesight ? ? Eyesight Head

Hearing ? ? Hearing Neck

Arm ? ? Arm Back Chest

Hand/ ? Hand/ Finger ? Finger Abdomen Upper Limbs Leg Above ? Leg Above Pelvis/ Knee ? Knee Buttocks

Leg Below ? Leg Below Lower Knee ? Knee Limbs

Foot/Toes ? ? Foot/Toes

28 Right Side Left Side

FORM ME COKO MGEC I KUM AWANO KI TOO MA OA KI I KUM MINE

(LANDMINE VICTIM DATA COLLECTION FORM)

PI I COO MO KEREN KA MA KICIDO MACOL NI NGEC ME ACAKI Incident ID Entry date

Date report received Entered by

Ngat mucoko mgec man Ngat ma omiyo ngec man

Nino me coyo report Nino ki cawa me peko man (accident)

Dul ma ocwello report man ki kama ginonge iye

KAMA PEKO MAN OTIME IYE Paco/Gang I gudu I cukul I kam

I Cuma I poto I nget kulu I yoo kin gang

Nget gedo pa gamente Nget gang mony I bar tuku Ka mukene

Distrik

County

Taun Bore rom kwene ki taun? Tung kwene ki i taun?

NGEC KUM NGAT MA ONONGO AWANO NI Nying kwon/pen Nyingi mukene Lacoo/dako Lacoo Dako Nino nywal

Dano me lobo mene Tic ma onongo en tiyo

Addreci pa ngat ma owane/oto ni

NGEC I KUM AWANO NYO TOO Ngati mono oto nyo owane? Oto Owane keken

Ngati ni oto ki kwene? Ka ma owane iye ni I yoo ot yat I ot yat

Ka ma pe gingeyo

KA KWENE MA OWANE Longolo/oneko: Owano:

Wang ? ? Wang I wic

It ? ? It I ngut

Bad ? ? Bad I dye I koo ngec Cing/iwet ? Cing/iwet cing ? cing I ic I bad Eme ? ? Eme

Oloto tyene ? ? Oloto tyene I dud

Tyene/iwet ? Tyene/iwet tyene ? tyene I tyen 29

Acu’c Acam

LANDM I NE PREVAL ENCE - ACHO LI L AND (1 998 -20 02)

LEGEND S U DAN AC HOLI DISTRICTS BOUN DARIES AGORO COUNTIES BOUN DARIES LOKUNG

LAN DMIN E OCCUREN CE MADI-OPEI LA M WO KA RAM OJ A NO INFORMATION AVAILED PADIBE EAST OROM 0 ---3 PALOGA 4 --- 6 OGILI PALABEK KAL 7 & ABOVE PADIBE WEST CHUA MUCWINI AREAS OF PONTENTIAL RISKS NAM-OKORA LAYAMO

KITGUM-MATIDI ATIAK PALABEK GEM KTC AMIDA AKWANG OMIA ANYIMA PAIMOL LAGORO ACHOLI-BUR WOL PALARO LAGUTI

ADJ U M AN I PABBO ASWA PATIKO PAJULE PARABONGO AWACH ATANGA ARU U LAPONO LAPUL AGA GO LAMOGI LIRA K ILAK PAICHO PADER BUNGATIRA OMOT LOKOLE AMURU

GMC LIRA-PALWO KORO LALOGI ADILANG ONGAKO OMO RO ODEK AWERE ALERO PATONGO LAKWANA PURANGA PURONGO NWOY A BOBI KOCH-GOMA ANAKA Prepared and Produced By:   ¡ © ¨!  $ $  " # " ¥

& % % © % ' & ! ! ! !

NEBB I   "  $ ( ) "  ©   ¦  ¨ § §  *+        ¨    KABALEGA NATIONAL GAME PARK £ ¢ ¡ ¦ ¤ ¨ § § ¥ APA C ©  ¦  ¨ § §           ¨     

N Source of Information £ ¢ ¡ ¦ % % ¤ ¨ ! § §  ¥

¦ . , & / 0 ¨ ¨ ! ! § §   - ( " #  " ) - )

©1   1 1 &  & !  ! ! ! ( "  ) #  # ( ( ( 2 -  1:1200,000 20 0 20 Kilometers @ 4 9 5 78 D C BC 3 => = : < :< ; 6 3 : 6 ? 5.4 MAP OF ACHOLI LAND SHOWING MINE PREVALENCE. A

30 5.5 MAP OF GULU DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS.

Gulu - Administrative Units Counties and Sub Counties

Gulu

Kampala

AATTIAIAKK Maps and distances not in scale PPAALLAARROO

PPAABBBBOO ASWA PATIKO AWACH KILAK PATIKO AWACH

AMURU LAMOGI PPAAICICHHOO AMURU BUNGATIRA

GUL U ODEK A LERO OONNGGAAKKOO KOKROOR O LLAALLOOGGI I OMORO LLAAKKWWAANNAA NWOYA ANAKA BOBI BOBI PPUURROONNGGOO KOCH GOMA

GOMA

LEGEND

NWOYA COUNTY DISTRICT BOARDER SOURCE OMORO COUNTY SUB COUNTY BOADER DISTRICT AUTHORITY ASWA COUNTY KILAK COUNTY GULU MINCIPALITY

IMU - Uganda is supported by: MAPGULU_ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS _200605 Organizations are most welcome to provide information to OCHA Gulu office or emails to [email protected] Source: UNOCHA- Gulu Office

31 5.6 MAP OF GULU DISTRICT SHOWING IDP POPULATION BREAKDOWN. County Sub County Camps Persons Lacor 6,189 Keyo 4,328 Awer 14,946 Lamogi Pagak 10,870 Olwal 12,825 Parabongo 11,389 Pabbo 53,612 Biira Pabbo Jeng gari 3,314 Kilak Otong 1,424 Pawel 3,063 Palukere 693 Attiak Attiak 19,594 Bibia 5,167 Amuru 37,429 Omee Lower 3,484 ASWA Amuru KILAK Omee Upper 2,444 Labongo Gali 6,460 Tegot 365 Lolim 494 Wii Anaka 1,159 Purongo Wii Anono 1,162 GULU Purongo 6,982 Olwiyo 2,150 Aparanga 2,231 OMORO Nwoya Anaka 22,449 Anaka NWOYA Agung 2,047 Alero 12,846 Corner Nwoya Alero Langol Alokolum 9,253 Koch Goma Koch Goma 11,330 Awere 4,644 Dino 4,560 Odek Odek 2,444 Acet 18,523 Adak Lalogi Corner Agula Lalogi 13,655 Omoro Awoo 5,271 Lakwana Opit 26,215 Breakdown of IDP Population Koro Abili 5,597 Koro as per County Te Tugu 10,082 Bobi 11,945 Kilak Bobi Minakulu 43% Palenga 10,449 Ongako Ongako 7,116 Aswa Awach Awach 13,224 16% Unyama 12,593 Omeil Apem Paicho Atoo Hills Nowya Paicho 9,104 Omoro 17% Teyapadhola 5,684 24% Aswa Palaro 4,962 Palaro Lugore 3,497 Patiko Ajulu 8,374 Patiko Lukodi 1,608 Cet Kana Bungatira Coo Pee 10,980 TOTAL 460,226

IMU - Uganda is supported by: Source: UNOCHA- Gulu Office

32 5.7 Graph 9: Victims with Multi Injuries

26 Victims with multiple injuries 24 23 22 20 20 18 s 16 m i

16 t c i v

14 f o

12 12 o N 10 10 9 9 8 8 8 7 7 6 6 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 0 t s s s n s s s w w y w s w r s g i s m s e e m e e o e o r o r v o d e r e e e l l i l l e o l l o o t r o t e / o t o A e g m e / e t A e

h / e / t g t u /

, t s b t / b j , b n c o b

t b i r P t

/ n

o o e o

n e d i e o F e , g s o s i g s s f l o o e / b o /

e o f g e e e o g s r e g e o F F f f n d

d n A , , / / e o , n e L o h e e e L k

i n t n

t g k

, f e e , s L

L / n , / o h , m / r

t

a a t t e e e k e W e s , , r e / l e e s

o e o w m e h t

v H e n n e

, e e e e A / d m o

r e o g e n , k k l o , n f r e d s n n e e a n

v

n e r b e / k e m i e n k , A n f n k k n

r a o e f

w

e b

a e e / k k , e v a

k m e a h b

e o

g e n n , / d t r v e l o e g g a v e v e k d n k a

n n h i

o

e b e e e v / m o v f o a r g k b a n g / e b e a o L L o g b

i b e

h a e k d v a v / b s b e , a g a l

L g

H t

n o , o g a a g e e s g

e g

b a b g e e L L l y s e a a e s e n H

i L

g g h L E L r g g e e C a e e L L e L Type of injury L H

33 Table 4: MINES AND ERW RECOVERED BY THE UPDF, 2001-2005 (Source of the information: Engineering Department, 4th Division UPDF)

Year District ATMs APMs ERW Total 2001 Gulu NA NA NA 23 Kitgum NA NA NA 8 Total 31 2002 Gulu NA NA NA 36 Pader NA NA NA 1 Lira NA NA NA 3 Apac NA NA NA 1 Other NA NA NA 70 Total 111 2003 Gulu 30 33 0 63 Lira 0 57 (fuses only) 0 57 Pader 0 16 31 47 Kitgum 4 14 0 18 Soroti 2 10 (fuses only) 0 12 Moyo 0 3 0 3 Yumbe 1 0 0 1 Apac 0 1 0 1 Total 202 2004 Gulu 2 19 NA 21 Kitgum 1 7 45 53 Lira 0 5 13 18 Pader 7 21 120 148 Other 2 30 92 124 Total 364 2005 (Jan-Dec) Gulu 15 6 91 102 Kitgum 1 78 79 Pader 2 91 93 Lira 1 64 65 Other NA NA NA Total 349

34