Casualties Overview

In 2015, the Monitor identified eight mine casualties in the Republic of Niger.[1] This represented an increase from the two casualties in one mine incident recorded in 2014.[2] Mine casualties recorded in 2015 were associated with intensifying Boko Haram insurgent activities in southeast Niger, in the region bordering Nigeria. Reports indicated mines or improvised mines (victim-activated improvised explosive devices, IEDs) having been the cause. In February, two military personnel were killed and another four injured in Bosso, on the border with Nigeria. The mine was reportedly used in the conflict around Diffa town. Less than a week later, two civilians were killed when their horse-drawn cart drove over an unidentified mine in the same area.[3]

The Monitor has recorded 411 mine/ERW casualties (108 killed; 286 injured; 17 unknown outcome) from 1999 to 2015. In 2014, National Commission for the Collection and Control of Illicit Weapons (Commission Nationale Pour la Collecte et le Contrôle des Armes Illicites, CNCCAI) reported a total of 400 (108 killed; 287 injured; 5 unknown outcome) mine/ERW casualties in Niger between 2007 and April 2014.[4]

Victim Assistance

As of the end of 2015, the total number of mine/ERW survivors in Niger was at least 286. Most survivors were concentrated in the Agadez region.

In Diffa, an ICRC surgical team treated weapon-wounded patients at the regional hospital and the Bosso health center. The ICRC also provided supplies, equipment, and infrastructure repairs.[5] 

Coordination

CNCCAI is the government focal point for victim assistance, but due to a lack of funds its role has been largely limited to advocacy within the government on behalf of survivors.

Disability issues are the responsibility of the Ministry of Population, Gender and Child Protection; the Ministry of Health deals with physical rehabilitation services.[6]

Niger lacks a specific victim assistance plan, but victim assistance was one of the six sectors of intervention of the Action Plan 2009–2013.[7] While the Ministry of Health does have a National Health Development plan (2011–2015), there was no mention of physical rehabilitation in the plan.[8]

Niger has not submited a Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report since 2012. This report, for calendar year 2011, included information on victim assistance in Form J.

Victim assistance services were severely limited, particularly in the Agadez region, where most survivors are located.[9]

In 2015, the ICRC continued to support the physical rehabilitation department at Niamey National Hospital (HNN), including materials and technical input to help it become more sustainable. Eighty mine/ERW survivors had food, transport, and accommodation costs related to rehabilitation covered by the ICRC. In all, 540 persons with physical disabilities benefited from various services at the ICRC-assisted center (compared to 475 in 2014). The services included the provision of 116 prostheses (53, or 32% for mine survivors).[10] 

The ICRC encouraged authorities and agencies to include physical rehabilitation services in a new national health plan and to establish a network for coordination. It also supported sports events on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities that raised awareness of the needs of persons with disabilities.[11]

Handicap International (HI) provided support to the Niger Disabled People’s Federation as well as local authorities in Niamey and Maradi to promote inclusive development processes. HI, also promoted the inclusion of children with disabilities in Niger's education system, through a West African regional project that also includes Burkina Faso, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Togo.[12]

Persons with disabilities were eligible for free healthcare. The constitution and law prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, and access to healthcare and other services. These provisions were generally enforced. Legislation mandates new buildings be accessible to persons with disabilities, but often architects and construction firms ignored this requirement and the law was not enforced. The labor code calls for promoting employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. There were no specific regulations for physical accessibility for persons with disabilities to transportation or education. Companies are required to hire a minimum of 5% of employees with disabilities or pay a penalty; however, implementation was lacking.

Niger ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 24 June 2008.