Stop, don’t touch, go back and report!

Armed conflicts put children’s lives in danger. Even after conflicts are over, abandoned remnants of war cause death and serious injuries. Children may touch or play with these devices without knowing their associated risks. In the Tigray region, where the northern Ethiopia conflict affected many children and families, UNICEF is working with schools and communities to protect children from the dangers of explosive remnants of war, and provide victim assistance services to affected children.

It was just an ordinary day for Haile (name changed to protect identity) when he took the cattle to the field near his home. But suddenly, things took a turn for the worse. He hardly remembers what he stepped on, but he still recalls the sound of an explosion that still disturbs him. And Haile hardly talks about it.

“I was home and I heard children screaming.  Then, I rushed out only to find my boy burned badly,” says Haile’s father. Haile sustained severe burns on his face, hands and abdomen. The young boy had to endure multiple burn-related treatments for months until he recovered. Yet, he is living with the scares and the trauma that a 10-year-old can never bear.

What happened to Haile is a tragic incident and it shouldn’t happen to other children. The northern Ethiopia conflict left many remnants of war near homes, schools and farmlands. That’s why UNICEF and its partner RADO (Rehabilitation and Development Organization) in the Tigray region are working to teach children about the dangers of explosives that the conflict left behind.

Shewit Hailu, an 8th-grader from Gormodo Primary School, stands before students to read a poem about safety. "The message of my poem says, don’t touch them [explosives] because you might get hurt. We are happy that we are getting important lessons on how to identify explosive ordnance and how to avoid it.’ 

Shewit, through the Explosive Ordnance Risk Education programme, took training on safety representing her school in Mekele, the region’s capital. She is also an active member of a school club where she leads sessions about identifying explosive ordnance with her best friend Helen. “Children need a safe environment to attend school properly. I am glad that the conflict is over but there is still a risk from explosive ordnance. That’s why we teach students about safety,” adds Shewit.

To keep students engaged and entertained, a football match is organized between two teams. Players from each team wear t-shirts with safety messages printed on them.  Awareness-raising sessions are also held before and after the match and students are encouraged to carry these important messages to their families and friends.

The match ended with a draw and Kapetal Atsebeha from Selam (peace) team is happy about the result. “It was a nice game. For now, we draw with them [Hiweyet] team. But next time, we will win. They have a good striker and we have a good defence.” 

Further to the football match, students learn about safety with drama and puppet shows. “Our main objective is to make students learn about critical measures they should take while encountering explosive ordnance,” says Tesfay Hailemariam a programme coordinator from RADO. “ We make sure that they get the lessons while they are entertained.” 

The entertainment-education is also supplemented by in-class child-to-child learning sessions. Additionally, flyers with cartoon illustrations are distributed to students to make their understanding solid.

The messages are clear: stop walking when you see explosive ordnance or any sign indicating the area may be hazardous. Do Not touch, assess your surroundings, then slowly move back and report the situation.