Landmines - Angola's National Plant

Volume 2 1995

Landmines have been called the Devil’s seed and in Angola these tools of terror continue to reap a harvest of death. An average of 20 000 Angolans have died each year of landmine explosions alone and nearly one percent of Angola’s population are amputees. Over 70 000 Angolans have lost one or more limbs to landmines. Angola still has over 10 million unexploded landmines planted in the ground. In other words - there are more landmines than people. Most of these were planted without adequate records. Most of the few records that were taken have been lost. These simple production line booby traps can lie in wait for years before claiming their victim. They are easily hidden and forgotten.

Anti-personnel landmines are instruments of terror. Their intention is not to kill but to maim - to shock and traumatise, demoralise and devastate - not only the unfortunate person who steps on the bomb, but those who have to medically care for the victim and the family and community as well. Angola has the largest number of landmine injuries and deaths in the world.

According to the Red Cross there are up to 1 million landmines planted in South and Central America, 3 to 7 million in Europe (mainly ex-Yugoslavia and Russia), 13 to 25 million in South Asia (mainly Afghanistan and Iran), 15 to 23 million in East Asia (mainly Laos and Cambodia), 17 to 24 million in the Middle East and 18 to 30 million in Africa (mostly in Angola and Mozambique).

The annual death toll from landmines is as follows: Somalia up to 600, Mozambique over 1 000, Laos up to 2000, Iraq 1 500, Cambodia 3 000, Afghanistan almost 8 000 and Angola 20 000. The most common mine in Angola is the Soviet Russian PMN anti-personnel mine (the cause of the largest percentage of mine-related deaths and amputations worldwide). The PMN contains 240 grams of TNT, it is 56mm high and 112-mm in diameter. It requires as little as 0,25kg of direct pressure to initiate an explosion.

The nastiest mines to encounter are the Soviet POMZ-2 fragmentation mines. Mounted on a stake and concealed above the ground this mine is detonated when a tripwire releases the striker. The POMZ-2 has 6 rows of fragmentation mounted around 75 grams of TNT. It has an effective killing range of up to 25 metres.

The Czechoslovakian PP-Mi-SR and Italian VS-69 bouncing mines are other unpleasant instruments of death. Also triggered by trip wires, a primary charge throws the mine into the air before the main charge explodes at chest height.

Civilians have been the main targets and victims of these landmines. Children have been the most severely traumatised.

Children who have lost a limb in a landmine explosion tend to be the saddest and most silent people you’ll ever meet. Medical personnel who deal with them say that they are emotionally numb and unresponsive.

Children who have been wounded in wars tend to be quite animated when describing their experiences. But landmine victims are generally different. The explosion is so sudden. The injury comes with no warning. The consequences are so devastating, and they are reminded of it every day. They will never forget the dull dust-raising thud, the shock and then the excruciating pain.

Less than 10% of Angola’s amputees have artificial limbs. In fact, most victims of mines do not even have proper crutches. For most a single stick from a tree branch has to suffice. Those who have lost both legs have to shuffle down the street on their hands. Wheelchairs are very rare. Faced with the legions of amputees and homeless orphans, rampant cholera, malnutrition and starvation it seemed incredible that the International Community could continue to enforce a total blockade - even of medicines and food - on Southern Angola.

While the oil-rich Angolan communist government continued to use its oil revenues to import weapons of mass destruction, the poverty stricken people of Southern Angola were forbidden any food supplies. While mercenary pilots hired by the Marxist MPLA regime rained bombs and rockets down on the UNITA held cities - missionaries were prevented from delivering medicines to the victims of these bombings! The Namibian government even ordered its soldiers to intensify patrols along the Southern Angolan border and “shoot on sight” anyone attempting to cross the border.

The Bible defines “pure and undefiled religion before God” as caring for “orphans and widows in their trouble” James 1:27

How can any government, or group of governments, forbid one to care for widows and orphans? God has commanded us to love our neighbours (Mark 12:31) and this would include our Angolan neighbours. No one can countermand our Lord’s Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20) or contradict Christ’s teaching in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:37).

Therefore, Frontilne Fellowship has continued to breach the blockade and deliver Bibles, medicines, food and clothing to the suffering Christians in Southern Angola. One Frontline team has just returned from a month long field trip to Angola. They endured long delays and complications at the border, bypassed the military patrols, crossed crocodile infested rivers and mosquito saturated swamps at night to deliver a truck load of Bibles, tracts and medical relief aid. As they passed by one village at 2am their guide woke up the members of the local church. They promptly came out of their huts to welcome the missionaries with joyful songs. The Angolans are keenly aware of the severe risks which have to be taken to breach the deadly blockade.

One vehicle ended up stuck in mud up to its axles and needed to be abandoned. Much of the Angolan side of the mission then had to be completed on foot. At one of the many services a live artillery round (probably a souvenir) was accidentally knocked over. It rolled off a high platform and fell to the ground with a jarring noise. The fear of the Lord fell upon many of the folk and the translator seemed particularly overcome with shock.

On another occasion our team accidentally bumped into a group of UN soldiers. Considering that our mission was in breach of their blockade there was naturally some tension! Yet the Lord gave our people favour in the eyes of these monitors who didn’t seem to realise how our people had entered Angola. Our team presented the Gospel to them and one soldier responded: “Perhaps this is why God brought me to Angola - to find salvation “.

Please pray for the lifting of the UN sanctions on UNITA-held Southern Angola and for our missionaries as we seek to deliver life saving Bibles and medicines to the Angolan Christians.

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word. ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.'" Gal 5:14

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