Key developments since May 2005: Algeria completed its stockpile destruction on 21 November 2005. A total of 150,050 antipersonnel mines of 10 different types were destroyed in 12 destruction events over the course of a year. Algeria served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies from December 2004 until December 2005. From November 2004 to 31 March 2006, the army discovered and destroyed 190,858 emplaced antipersonnel mines (six percent of the three million-plus mines on Algeria’s eastern and western borders). Algeria also destroyed 10,996 antipersonnel mines laid by its army during the struggle with insurgent groups in the 1990s. In May 2006, the government and UN Development Programme negotiated a cooperation agreement on mine action. There was a significant increase in casualties from mines, unexploded ordnance and victim-activated improvised explosive devices in 2005, with at least 15 people killed and 36 injured.
The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997, ratified on 9 October 2001, and became a State Party on 1 April 2002. Algeria considers existing laws, including its penal law, as sufficient legal measures to implement the Mine Ban Treaty: Law Number 97-06 on war material, arms and munitions (enacted on 21 January 1997) and Executive Order Number 98-96 (18 March 1998) implementing Law 97-06.[1] Algeria’s obligations under the Mine Ban Treaty have been published in a booklet for dissemination to the country’s armed forces.[2]
An interministerial committee, created on 8 May 2003 to oversee national implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, continued to meet in 2005 and 2006.[3]
Since publication of Landmine Monitor Report 2005, Algeria has submitted two updated Article 7 transparency reports, on 27 October 2005 and on 10 May 2006.[4]
Algeria served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies from December 2004 until the Sixth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Zagreb, Croatia in November-December 2005. At the Sixth Meeting, Algeria made a statement during the General Exchange of Views and interventions on mine clearance, stockpile destruction and victim assistance. In one statement, Algeria expressed appreciation to the ICBL and its member NGOs for assistance provided in the follow-up on Mine Ban Treaty obligations.[5] Algeria also participated in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in June 2005 and May 2006. At the May meetings, Algeria again made statements on its mine clearance, victim assistance and stockpile destruction activities.
Algeria has not engaged in the extensive discussions that States Parties have had on matters of interpretation and implementation related to Articles 1 and 2. Thus, it has not made known its views on the issues of joint military operations with non-States Parties, foreign stockpiling and transit of antipersonnel mines, and antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes or antihandling devices.
The government hosted a symposium on the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty in Algiers on 8-9 May 2005.[6] Algerian officials attended a conference on landmines held in Cairo, Egypt in December 2005.
On 22 November 2005, the ICBL released the ban policy findings of Landmine Monitor Report 2005 in Algiers during an event hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Bedjaoui.[7] The release received widespread national and regional media coverage.[8]
Algeria is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.
Algeria is not known to have ever produced or exported antipersonnel mines. It imported antipersonnel mines from China, the former Soviet Union and the former Yugoslavia.[9] In May 2005, the government acknowledged that it had used mines against terrorists during the 1990s.[10] Previously, it had stated landmines were used before 1962 by the “colonial army” along the country’s borders.[11]
Algeria has, from time to time, reported that insurgents or “terrorist groups” have planted homemade mines (improvised explosive devices, IEDs) to attack government troops.[12] Landmine Monitor has not received any specific reports of use of antipersonnel mines by insurgents since July 2003.[13] IED use by insurgents continues to be reported sporadically.[14]
On 21 November 2005, Algeria completed the destruction of its stockpile with the detonation of a final 3,030 antipersonnel mines at a public ceremony at Hassi Bahbah in Ejelfa province, southwest of Algiers. The government met its declared goal to complete stockpile destruction ahead of the opening of the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in Zagreb on 28 November 2005, and four months in advance of its treaty-mandated 1 April 2006 deadline.[15]
Between 24 November 2004 and 21 November 2005, a total of 150,050 antipersonnel mines of 10 different types were destroyed in 12 destruction events.[16] In addition, a total of 18,873 coils of trip wire and 187,510 wooden stakes were destroyed.[17] The majority of mines were destroyed by open detonation at military ranges, while stake-mounted fragmentation mines (PMR-2A, POMZ-2) were disassembled and the metal bodies crushed.[18]
The President of Algeria and other high-level officials, as well as Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams and other ICBL representatives, participated in the final destruction event on 21 November 2005.[20] The various stockpile destruction events were witnessed by government officials, diplomatic missions, representatives of the UN, NGOs and the media. Landmine Monitor attended three of the events.[21]
In May 2003, Algeria declared it would retain 15,030 mines for training purposes, from its stockpile of 165,080 antipersonnel mines.[22] The number has not changed since Algeria first declared it, indicating no mines have been consumed during training activities. Algerian officials informed the ICBL that the completion of stockpile destruction in November 2005 could be an opportunity to re-assess the number of mines retained.[23] However, Algeria’s May 2006 Article 7 report continued to list 15,030 mines.
Algerian officials have said that the retained mines are being used by both military and police forces, and that they prefer to train deminers with live mines.[24] Algeria has not yet reported in any detail on the intended purposes and actual uses of its retained mines—a step agreed by States Parties in the Nairobi Action Plan (Action #54) that emerged from the First Review Conference.[25] In Nairobi, Algeria complained that Action #54 constituted a “new obligation” for States Parties.[26] Algeria did not use the new, expanded Form D for reporting on retained mines agreed by States Parties at the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in November-December 2005.
Algeria is contaminated with mines as well as unexploded ordnance (UXO) as a result of World War II, the conflict to end French colonial occupation and the insurgency of the 1990s.[27] The government has estimated that 3,064,180 mines still contaminate 56.76 square kilometers along 1,049 kilometers of the Morice and Challe lines, on the eastern border area with Tunisia and on the western border area with Morocco.[28]
In the 1990s, insurgent groups laid an unknown number of homemade mines and explosive items in the north of the country.[29] The Algerian army also laid a total of 15,709 antipersonnel mines during this period “to protect sensitive areas and electricity poles ... that were targeted by terrorists groups.” In its Article 7 report of May 2006, Algeria gave details of the locations of these mines: 499 antipersonnel mines were laid around 48 electricity poles in the northeast of the country in the 1990s; 9,172 antipersonnel mines were spread over 10 locations in the northwest; and 6,038 antipersonnel mines were laid in the center of the country. Algeria has also stated that some “locations that still need clearance in the center of the country continue to be targeted by the insurgent groups.”[30]
Algeria has two mined areas, said to be clearly marked, along the Challe line, resulting from Algeria’s National Liberation War. One is at El Debdoubi El R’Mila, in Tébessa province, and covers an area of 30,000 square meters. The second one is at El Menabha in Béchar province and extends over 20,000 square meters.[31]
Algeria has reported that all suspected and confirmed mined areas were previously mapped and that it had attached the results―a map of contamination as of 15 January 2003―to its initial Article 7 report submitted in 2003.[32]
The Interministerial Committee on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty was set up by presidential decree in May 2003 to oversee Algeria’s compliance with the treaty.[33] The committee started functioning in September 2004 and consists of representatives from the ministries of communication, defense, interior, foreign affairs, health, national solidarity, and veterans. The committee is in charge of following up on the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, updating Algeria’s Article 7 reports and developing international cooperation.[34]
The committee is chaired by a representative from the Ministry of Defense and has an executive secretary; it meets every six months or upon request.[35] Following a presidential decree on 31 May 2006, responsibility for the committee was passed from the Office of the Chief of Government to the Ministry of Defense, as part of a broader transfer of more responsibility directly to ministries.[36]
All demining activities in Algeria are the sole responsibility of the army.
There is no mine action legislation in Algeria. The army is said to conduct demining operations according to “common international standards,” which have been adapted to Algeria’s soil conditions.[37]
No national mine action strategy has been developed in Algeria. There have been three main areas of activity: clearing mines and UXO on the eastern and western borders, clearing mines planted by the Algerian army in the struggle against insurgent groups, and destroying antipersonnel mines wherever their presence is confirmed.[38] Algeria has reported that the pace of demining is subject to factors such as climatic conditions (in particular, heat in the desert), the nature of the soil (rocky and hard ground), thick vegetation in the north, soil erosion and movement of sand by the wind, and to a shortage of funds and a lack of personal protective equipment and demining tools.[39] Clearance of mines laid by the Algerian army during the 1990s was expected to be completed by the end of June 2007.[40]
The Executive Secretary of the Interministerial Committee stated that it has sought to learn from experts in international organizations and NGOs about mine action, and how to implement the Nairobi Action Plan.[41] In May 2005, the government started discussions with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) on cooperation in mine action. As a result, it was proposed that UNDP would help Algeria conduct a “comprehensive impact survey” of the mine problem, in order to develop a national strategic plan. The project, to be carried out in cooperation with UNICEF, will also develop a mine risk education (MRE) strategy targeting affected communities. UNDP support will include technical assistance and advice, training and the provision of equipment. It was expected that the project would be funded by the governments of Algeria, Canada and Sweden, and by UNDP.[42] As of June 2006, the agreement awaited signature.[43]
In Algeria, mine-related information is centralized in a database and processed by the army general staff. Version 4 of the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) was due to be installed before the end of 2006 as a component of the cooperation agreement between UNDP and Algeria.[44]
Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algeria is required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but no later than 1 April 2012. Between November 2004 and 31 March 2006, Algeria cleared only 6.2 percent of the more than three million antipersonnel mines located on its eastern and western borders. In addition to the identification and clearance of antipersonnel mines laid by insurgent groups in the 1990s, some 4,713 antipersonnel mines laid by the Algerian army during the same period still required clearance as of March 2006. The proposed support from UNDP may assist Algeria in accelerating its demining program significantly.
No survey or assessment has taken place; the proposed impact survey is intended to provide a basis for development of a mine action strategy.[45]
No marking or fencing of mine-suspected areas took place during the reporting period. Previously, Algeria has reported that marking and fencing of suspected mined areas was being removed by the population.[46] Although border areas along the Challe and Morice lines contain fences, these were not meant to mark mined areas and do not accord with international standards.[47] Other contaminated areas, in particular those resulting from World War II or which have been mined by terrorist groups, are not marked or fenced.[48]
From 27 November 2004 to 31 March 2006, the army destroyed 190,625 APID and APMB antipersonnel mines and 233 trip flares out of the total of 3,064,180 mines planted on its eastern and western borders.[49] In those areas, demining had previously taken place from independence in 1963 to 1988, destroying 7,819,120 mines and clearing 500 square kilometers on both borders, said to represent 58 percent of all mined areas in Algeria at that time.[50]
Algeria declared in its Article 7 report of May 2006 that the clearance operations were conducted at some strategic locations mined in the 1990s during the struggle against insurgent groups. In 2005, Algeria cleared all 499 antipersonnel mines laid around 48 electricity poles in the northeast, 9,172 antipersonnel mines from 10 other locations, and 1,225 of the 6,038 antipersonnel mines laid in the center of the country.[51] Thus, of the 15,709 mines that were laid by the Algerian army in the 1990s, 10,996 mines had been cleared by 30 March 2006.[52]
Demining activities are undertaken by the Algerian Army using only manual clearance methods. Land cleared is reportedly agricultural, used for grazing and used by nomads.[53]
No demining accidents were reported during the reporting period.[54]
Algeria does not have a national mine risk education program. Algerian officials however, including President Abdelaziz Bouteflika,[55] stated during a symposium on the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, held in Algiers on 8-9 May 2005, that Algeria is in need of an MRE program.[56] Algeria issued a strategy document for implementation of the Nairobi Action Plan in which it pledged to develop MRE and increase efforts to mark mined areas.[57]
Following the mine action symposium of May 2005, the government of Algeria and UNDP have been discussing possible cooperation in mine action. A UNDP project is being discussed (see under Mine Action). The project, in close cooperation with UNICEF, is expected to also help develop an MRE strategy targeting the affected communities.”[58]
The Algerian Army provides basic mine awareness training as part of the military training for its staff, as well as for military academy students and the national police.[59]
According to the executive secretary of the interministerial committee, there were new mine casualties in Algeria in 2005 and 2006. However, Algeria informed the Standing Committee meetings in May 2006 that “in the months February, March and April 2006 alone,” nine casualties had been recorded in the eastern and western border areas.[60]
Landmine Monitor received information on 51 casualties caused by mines, UXO and victim-activated IEDs reported in local media, including 15 killed and 36 injured in 2005; 46 casualties (12 killed, 34 injured) occurred as a result of victim-activated IEDs, four casualties were due to mines and one was due to UXO. Twenty-four of the casualties were civilian, 23 were military, and four were government employees.[61] This representes a large increase from 2004, when there were nine casualties (five killed, four injured) in three mine and two UXO incidents.[62]
Mine/UXO incidents in 2005 included one in January, when three women were killed and five others were injured by a bomb in Blida region.[63] Three men were killed when they tried to carry a landmine to the Flaousen Mountains near Tlemcen province.[64] Another man was injured by UXO he found near his house in Biskra province.[65] In October, two boys were injured when they picked up a “bomb parcel;” a young woman was also injured.[66] In December, a 17-year-old boy was injured when he stepped on an antipersonnel mine near Mecheria in Tlemcen province.[67]
Also in 2005, at least four other people were killed and 21 injured by remote-detonated (non victim-activated) IEDs, and 16 people were killed and three injured by unspecified types of IED.[68]
Mine/UXO casualties continued to be reported in local media in 2006. By 25 May, there had been at least 18 casualties caused by mine and victim-activated IEDs (four killed, 14 injured). This included one person killed and 12 injured by victim-activated IEDs, and at least three people killed and two injured by mines. At least five of the 18 casualties were civilian.[69]
In April 2006, a shepherd was killed when he stepped on a landmine while herding his animals near Laâricha, Tlemcen province.[70] Reportedly, four more mine casualties have been registered since the beginning of 2006, including two people killed.[71]
The Algerian government stated that nine mine casualties had been recorded between February and April on the eastern and western borders.[72]
There is no official or comprehensive mechanism to collect information on landmine casualties in Algeria. The Ministry of War Veterans has a database of military mine casualties, but this information was not made available to Landmine Monitor.
The total number of mine casualties in Algeria is not known. There are reportedly 7,000 registered landmine and UXO casualties, and more than 500 widows and 950 descendants of mine casualties who receive support.[73] The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has records for 1,988 antipersonnel mine casualties, including 725 in Tébessa province, 511 in Souk Ahras, 52 in Béchar and 115 in Naâma.[74] The Ministry of Interior and Local Collectives stated that between 1995 and 2005, mines and IEDs have killed approximately 4,000 and injured 13,000.[75]
At the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in November-December 2005, the Algerian government stated that, “care for persons with disabilities and mine/UXO victims is a government priority,” and that more than 3,000 mine/ERW survivors get a pension, in accordance with the 2002 Disability Law.[76]
On 9 May 2005, Algeria reaffirmed its commitment to assistance to mine and UXO survivors, and recognized its “obligation to provide services, re-education and reintegration for mine survivors, where and how many they may be, [and to] continue its efforts to improve their quality of life and to guarantee its efforts.”[77] It organized the First International Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, which had a substantial survivor assistance component. Interventions were made by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and Handicap International (HI). The symposium made recommendations resulting in the creation of a national strategy to improve data collection, comprehensive survivor assistance services, awareness-raising and coordination.[78] Recommendations were made to improve services for mine survivors: increase the number of services and provide training for medical, rehabilitation and psychological support staff; reinforce cooperation between national and international organizations to improve accessibility, ensure children with disabilities find a place in the school system, and develop cultural and sports activities for people with disabilities to further their socioeconomic reintegration; develop awareness raising activities and a social communication strategy with civil society partners; improve data collection quantitatively and qualitatively, and put a verification mechanism in place at the interministerial committee.[79]
Algeria did not include information on victim assistance activities in its Article 7 report submitted in 2006.
Algeria stated at the Standing Committee meetings in May 2006 that, “intersectorial coordination is ensured in all phases of the [survivor assistance] process,” and that survivors receive free medical services, are referred to specialized services, and can obtain psychosocial and disability compensation. Algeria also provides support to organizations assisting mine survivors.[80]
Civilians have free access to government hospitals and medical centers. Physical rehabilitation services are only available free of charge for people registered in the national security system.[81] Social and economic reintegration is part of the government’s general social action program for all people with disabilities.[82] However, there is a need to train doctors and modernize prosthetic centers. The interministerial committee carried out a needs assessment on mine action, which included survivor assistance. Reportedly, this will not lead to the development of a national action plan for survivor assistance and no new services for those with social security coverage will be developed in the short term.[83] The interministerial committee does not have a budget for survivor assistance since the Ministry of Mujahideen or the Ministry of Interior and Local Collectives, depending on the cause of the mine/UXO incident, take charge of mine survivors.[84]
In 2005, the Algerian Red Crescent, with support from ICRC, continued to train first aid teams that could respond to emergencies all over the country.[85]
The National Algerian Office for Equipment and Accessories for Disabled People (Office Nationale d’Appareillages et d’Accessoires pour Personnes handicapées, ONAAPH) provides physical rehabilitation, artificial limbs and mobility devices to all people with disabilities, including disabled veterans and war victims, at Ben Aknoun hospital in Algiers. The service is paid for by the social security system.[86] ONAAPH has regional branches in the provinces of Tizi Ouzou, Blida, Biskra and in the city of Touggourt, production centers in Béjaïa and Médéa provinces, and satellite centers or referral units in all parts of the country.[87]
ICRC has supported the prosthetic workshop at the Ben Aknoun hospital with technical and financial support, primarily to provide access to physical rehabilitation for Algerians not covered by health insurance. In 2005, the workshop assisted 69 people with rehabilitation services, and provided 30 prostheses (13 percent for mine survivors) and 37 orthoses (none for mine survivors). ICRC and the Ministry of Health are also discussing means of increasing access to services for people who cannot afford it in other parts of the country.[88]
Handicap International has supported organizations of people with disabilities, including the Federation of Organizations of the Physically Disabled, public hospitals and government agencies, to develop and improve psychological, social and care services, through the creation of networks to promote the autonomy and inclusion of disabled people, and also by providing physiotherapy training. In 2005-2006, HI trained 80 people, including executive staff of organizations for disabled people, physiotherapists (30) and social workers, and equipped several physical and occupational therapy units in Boumerdès province, in Ben Aknoun and in Douéra in Algiers. HI also provided technical and material support to institutes for paramedical training.[89] In September 2006, HI planned to expand its coordination activities to the mine-affected provinces of Tébessa, El Tarf and Souk Ahras in the east, and Béchar and Naâma in the west, as well as the terrorism-affected areas of Relizane and Jijel. HI aims to improve knowledge of victim assistance issues at local and provincial levels, assist organizations in strategy development, advocacy and capacity-building, as well as create a platform and links between the organizations and with the institutions with which HI is already working.[90] The €200,000 (some US$250,000) project is partly funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission, and partly by HI.[91]
The Algerian Red Crescent Society has provided material and financial assistance to people with disabilities and has organized awareness-raising events.[92] It also has implemented a psychosocial and vocational training support program for women and children who have been the victim of violence and conflict in 15 provinces. ICRC provided technical, training and material support.[93]
In El Tarf, the Association for Solidarity with Disabled and Mine Victims (Association Solidarité des Handicapés et Victimes des Mines) provides socioeconomic and psychosocial support, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and National Solidarity. The head of the organization is a mine survivor. The organization has opened a computer space, and organizes information sessions and French and English language courses. In 2005, 300 people, including 100 mine survivors, were assisted, but there are more people on the waiting list and the Association faces financial constraints to implementing its socioeconomic reintegration program.[94]
The Federation of Organizations of the Physically Disabled (Fédération des Associations des Handicapés Moteurs, FAHM) coordinates the activities of local organizations of people with physical disabilities to advocate for equal rights, to protect their moral and material rights, to elaborate a common plan of action, to build capacity, to propose draft laws, to provide advice to the government, to disseminate information and to raise awareness about disability.[95]
The French NGO Triangle provides assistance to people with disabilities in the Dakhla refugee camp for Saharawi people. Services include several community and welcome centers, awareness-raising and education.[96]
Other organizations working with mine survivors include IRADA and the Organization of Physically Disabled in El Tarf, and the National Association of mine victims in Biskra.[97]
Algeria has legislation to protect the rights of people with disabilities.[98] There are two funds which provide pensions for landmine survivors and other people with disabilities: one, under the Ministry of Mujahideen, for victims of colonialism, and another, under the Ministry of Interior and Local Collectives, for victims of terrorism. The budget for people with disabilities is one third of the total budget of Ministry of Labor and National Solidarity.[99 ] Under the disability legislation, people with disabilities receive free medical care, social security, rehabilitation services and transport fees; it also stipulates that at least one percent of a company’s employees must be people with disabilities, otherwise a financial contribution has to be paid to the fund of the National Council for the Disabled.[100] In May 2006, draft decrees were being processed to fix the amount of the financial contribution to be paid to the fund. Other decrees stipulating the criteria for free public transport, reduced costs for property rental and social housing, as well as employment centers for people with disabilities were also under discussion.[101]
The National Council for Disabled Persons has reportedly never met since it was first created in 1983. The Ministry of Education and Vocational Training has a subdepartment for “special categories.”[102]
The UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) sent a questionnaire on the five pillars of mine action, including victim assistance and immediate and longer term rehabilitation, to six North African states: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.[103]
[1] Article 7 Report, Paras. 1.1 and 1.2, 1 May 2003, and repeated in more recent reports.
[2] Article 7 Reports, Para. 1.3, 10 May 2006 and 27 October 2005; Government of Algeria, “Algerian obligation under article 4 of the MBT, stockpile destruction by the Algerian army,” Algiers, undated, p. 81. This book was distributed during the stockpile destruction operation on 21 November 2005.
[3] Presidential Decree No. 03-211 of 8 May 2003, as cited in Article 7 Report, 11 May 2004.
[4] These are the submission dates listed by the UN. The reports themselves are dated May 2005 (with a cover letter dated 24 October 2005) and April 2006 (with a cover letter dated 9 May 2006). The reports do not specify the time period covered, and do not use the standard reporting Forms. Algeria previously submitted two Article 7 reports, on 1 May 2003 and 11 May 2004.
[5] Statement by Amb. Salah Lebdioui, Head of Delegation, Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 28 November 2005, p. 4.
[6] For more information, see Landmine Monitor Report 2005, pp. 125-126.
[7] ICBL Press Release, “Over 38 Million Landmines Destroyed by Mine Ban Treaty States Parties,” 22 November 2005; ICBL Update, “Algeria Completes Stockpile Destruction,” 24 November 2005, www.icbl.org.
[8] See for example, “Lancement mardi à Alger de l’édition 2005 du rapport de l’Observatoire des mines antipersonnel,” Associated Press (Algiers), 22 November 2005. More than 22 local media representatives covered the release as well as AFP, AP, Reuters, Xinhua, ARD Radio/TV, Abu Dhabi TV, Al-Hora TV, Al-Alam TV (Iran) and CNBC TV (Arabic). A total of 135 people attended the release event including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and National Solidarity and Employment. Many diplomatic representatives were present including the ambassadors of Austria and Canada. Email from Ayman Sorour, Protection, 24 November 2004.
[9] Article 7 Report, Para. 2, 1 May 2003.
[10] Interview with Col. Hacène Gherabi, Interministerial Committee on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005; statement by Algeria, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006, p. 2, which notes, “destruction of 10,996 mines posed by the Algerian army during the last decade;” Article 7 reports, Para. 3.3, 10 May 2006 and 27 October 2005.
[11] Article 7 Report, Para. 3, 1 May 2003.
[12] Interview with Col. Hacène Gherabi, Interministerial Committee, Geneva, 11 February 2004; see Landmine Monitor Report 2003, p. 74.
[13] Two soldiers died after stepping on landmines near Timgad, in the province of Batna, and authorities blamed the Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat. “Terrorists kill six in Batna,” PANA (Algiers), 9 July 2003. The US State Department reported that during 2002, “In rural areas, terrorists continued to plant bombs and mines, which often targeted security force personnel.” US Department of State, “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices–2002: Algeria,” 31 March 2003.
[14] See, for example, “Algeria: 13 soldiers killed and 35 others killed in an attack by the Salafist group,” al-Hayat (Algiers), 4 June 2004; “Twelve die in Islamist rebel ambush in Algeria,” Mail & Guardian (online edition), 16 May 2005.
[15] Government of Algeria, “Implementation of the Nairobi Plan of Action in Algeria: the Algerian Strategy,” 9 May 2005.
[16] The mines were destroyed on these dates: 24 November 2004 (3,030 antipersonnel mines destroyed), 28 March 2005 (34,140 mines), 29 March (19,562 mines), 18 April (14,085 mines), 19 April (22,644 mines), 10 May (24,000 mines), 11 May (24,000 mines), 23 May (1,559 mines), 24 May (1,000 mines), 19 September (1,500 mines), 20 September (1,500 mines) and 21 November (3,030 mines).
[17] ICBL Update, “Algeria Completes Stockpile Destruction,” 24 November 2005, www.icbl.org.
[18] Presentation by Col. Hacène Gherabi, Interministerial Committee, Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 15 June 2005.
[19] Article 7 Report, Sections 2 and 4, 10 May 2006.
[20] Governmental participants included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Employment and Solidarity, Minister of War Veterans, Minister of Local Communities, “Delegated” Minister of Defense, Chief of Armed Forces, President of the Parliament’s Defense Committee and the President of the Interministerial Committee on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. The ICBL was represented by Human Rights Watch (Stephen Goose), Protection (Ayman Sorour), Mines Action Canada (Paul Hannon) and the ICBL’s Treaty Implementation Director Tamar Gabelnick.
[21] On 24 November 2004, 10 May 2005 and 21 November 2005.
[22] Article 7 Report, para. 4, 1 May 2003.
[23] ICBL meeting with the Algerian delegation, Standing Committee meetings, Geneva, 17 June 2005.
[24] Ibid.
[25] Action #54 states: “All States Parties will...provide information on the plans requiring the retention of mines...and report on the actual use of retained mines and the results of such use.” Final Report of the First Review Conference, APLC/CONF/2004/5, 9 February 2005, p. 103.
[26] Oral remarks by the Algerian delegation, First Review Conference, Nairobi, 1 December 2004 (notes taken by Human Rights Watch).
[27] Statement, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 14 June 2005.
[28] For more details, see Article 7 Report, para. 3, 1 May 2003.
[29] Statement by Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Executive Secretary, Interministerial Committee, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006; Seddik Bouallal, Interministerial Committee, presentation on “Victims of terrorist action,” First International Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 8 May 2005.
[30] Article 7 Report, para. 3.3, 10 May 2006.
[31] Article 7 Report, para. 3.4, 10 May 2006.
[32] Article 7 Reports, para. 3.2, 10 May 2006, and para. 3, 1 May 2003.
[33] Presidential Decree No. 03-211, 8 May 2003.
[34] Interview with Linda Briza, Deputy Director, Disarmament and International Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Geneva, 11 May 2006.
[35] Interview with Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, First International Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005.
[36] Interview with Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, Geneva, 4 July 2006.
[37] Email from Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, 5 June 2006.
[38] Statement by Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006.
[39] Ibid.
[40] Email from Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, 5 June 2006.
[41] Statement by Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, First International Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005.
[42] Email from Mohammad Younus, Programme Advisor, UNDP, 24 May 2006.
[43] Email from Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, 5 June 2006.
[44] Interview with Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, Geneva, 12 May 2006, and email, 5 June 2006.
[45] Statement by Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006.
[46] Email from Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, 10 May 2006.
[47] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 128.
[48] Interview with Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, First International Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005.
[49] Statement by Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006; Article 7 Report, para. 5.2, 10 May 2006.
[50] Statement by Algeria, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 14 June 2005; “Final Report of the First Review Conference,” APLC/CONF/2004/5, 9 February 2005, p. 51.
[51] Article 7 Report, para. 3.3, 10 May 2006.
[52] Article 7 Report, para. 3.3, 10 May 2006; Statement by Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006.
[53] Interview with Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, Geneva, 12 May 2006.
[54] Ibid.
[55] Opening statement by Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, First International Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005.
[56] Statement by Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, First International Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005; Algeria, “Actes du Symposium international,” Algiers, undated, p. 87.
[57] Government of Algeria, “Implementation of the Nairobi Plan of Action in Algeria: the Algerian Strategy,” Algiers, 9 May 2005; Algeria, “Actes du Symposium international,” Algiers, undated, p. 145.
[58] Email from Mohammad Younus, UNDP, 24 May 2006.
[59] Interview with Col. Hacène Gherabi, Interministerial Committee, Cairo, 28 December 2005.
[60] Statement by Algeria, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 8 May 2006; interview with Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Internministerial Committee, Geneva, 10 May 2006; letter to Handicap International (HI) Algeria from Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, 21 September 2005, faxed by Gaëtan de Beaupuis, Field Program Director, HI, Algiers, 21 September 2005.
[61] Landmine Monitor analysis of information on casualties from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005 provided by Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 25 May 2006, and information provided by Ayman Sorour, Protection, 31 March 2006.
[62] “Terrorists kill six in Batna,” PANA (Algiers), 9 July 2003.
[63] Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire by Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 30 August 2005.
[64] “Three persons killed in mine explosion in Tlemcen,” Alkhabar (newspaper), 18 October 2005, p. 2.
[65] “Uncle Ali escapes death after mine explodes in his hands,” Afagr (newspaper), 2 May 2005, p. 4.
[66] Information provided by Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 25 May 2006.
[67] “Un jeune gravement blessé par une mine,” (“Youngster seriously injured by mine”), El Watan (Tlemcen), 3 December 2005, www.elwatan.com, accessed 4 May 2006.
[68] Information provided by Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 25 May 2006.
[69] Landmine Monitor media analysis and analysis of information on casualties from 1 January 2006 to 23 May 2006, provided by Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 25 May 2006.
[70] “Encore une victime à Naâma,” (“Another victim in Naâma”), El Watan (Tlemcen), 11 April 2006, www.elwatan.com, accessed 4 May 2006.
[71] “Another victim in Naâma,” El Watan (Tlemcen), 11 April 2006.
[72] Statement by Algeria, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 8 May 2006.
[73] A. Benchabane, “Les mines antipersonnel tuent en Algérie” (“Landmines kill in Algeria”), El Watan (Tiemcen), 10 May 2005.
[74] Bouchenak Khelladi Abdellah, Director General for Social Solidarity, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, “La prise en charge de l’handicap, l’assistance aux victimes des mines antipersonnel” (“The care for disability, assistance to victims of antipersonnel mines”), in “Actes du symposium international,” 31 October 2005, p. 76.
[75] Seddik Bouallal, Minister of Interior and Local Collectives, “Les victimes d’engins explosives suite aux actes terrorists” (“The victims of explosive devices as a result of terrorist acts”), in “Actes du symposium international,” 31 October 2005, p. 69.
[76] Statement by Algeria, Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 28 November-2 December 2005.
[77] “Algeria Call” Document, First International Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005.
[78] Bouchenak Khelladi Abdellah, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, “La mise en œuvre du plan d’action de Nairobi en Algérie, la stratégie d’Alger” (“The implementation of the Nairobi Action Plan in Algeria, the strategy of Algers”), in “Actes du symposium international,” 31 October 2005, p. 145.
[79] “Rapport de l’atelier No. 1, la mise en œuvre des obligation aux victimes” (“Report of workshop No. 1, the implementation of the obligations towards victims”), in “Actes du Symposium international,” 31 October 2005, pp. 127-128.
[80] Statement by Algeria, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 8 May 2006.
[81] ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Program, “Annual Report 2005,” Geneva, draft received 19 May 2006, p. 33.
[82] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 117.
[83] Response to Landmine Monitor VA Questionnaire by Salima Rebbah, Coordinator of Support to Associations, HI, Algiers, 23 May 2006.
[84] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, pp. 131-132; the Ministry of Interior deals with “victims of terrorism,” including mine survivors, who have been injured since the 1990 civil war, and the Ministry of Mujahideen deals with “victims of Colonialism” and people injured due to acts of colonialism and the independence struggle, including mines.
[85] ICRC, “Annual Report 2005,” Geneva, June 2006, p. 298.
[86] Bouchenak Khelladi Abdellah, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, “La prise en charge de l’handicap, l’assistance aux victimes des mines antipersonnel,” in “Actes du Symposium international,” 31 October 2005, p. 80.
[87] French Embassy in Algeria, “Service de l’appareillage des anciens combattans” (“Prosthetics services for ex-combatants”), www.ambafrance-dz.org, accessed 25 August 2005; ONAAPH, www.onaaph.dz, accessed 25 August 2005.
[88] ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Program, “Annual Report 2005,” Geneva, draft received 19 May 2006, p. 33.
[89] Response to Landmine Monitor VA Questionnaire by Salima Rebbah, HI, Algiers, 23 May 2006.
[90] Ibid; email from Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 25 January 2006.
[91] Response to Landmine Monitor VA Questionnaire by Salima Rebbah, HI, Algiers, 23 May 2006.
[92] International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, “Croissant-Rouge algérien (partnerships in profile),” www.ifrc.org.
[93] ICRC, “Annual Report 2005,” Geneva, June 2006, p. 298.
[94] Response to Landmine Monitor VA Questionnaire by Youcef Rafai, Association for Solidarity with Disabled and Mine Victims, Bouhadjar (El Tarf), 20 May 2006, and interview, Zagreb, 1 December 2005.
[95] FAHM, www.fahm.asso.dz, accessed 9 June 2006.
[96] Triangle Generation Humanitaire, www.trianglegh.org.
[97] Response to Landmine Monitor VA Questionnaire by Salima Rebbah, HI, Algiers, 23 May 2006.
[98] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 117.
[99 ] Interview with Mohammed Belaoura, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Geneva, 15 June 2005.
[100] Statement by Algeria, Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 28 November-2 December 2005; Bouchenak Khelladi Abdellah, “La prise en charge de l’handicap, l’assistance aux victimes des mines antipersonnel,” in “Actes du Symposium international,” 31 October 2005, p. 79.
[101] Statement by Algeria, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 8 May 2006.
[102] Email from Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 30 August 2005.
[103] Email from Rosy Cave, Lead Researcher for Explosive Remnants of War, UNIDIR, 3 May 2006.