Accident Reports

Every week, depending on the accident rate in Vietnam, I get reports from our Vietnam office. These reports are briefs on incidents that have occured and to which we have responded involving accidents with unexploded bombs. I am posting the most recent in the format she usually sends them to me before I edit them, follow up with the staff, then report the accidents to newswires and/or post them to our website.

A warning, the photos may be too graphic for some. I have linked to them instead of posting them directly on the page.

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Hi James,
I am now sending you the news of 4 accidents happened last week. I will
attach JPEG tomorrow.

� (Phan Van Hieu) An accident happened in Thuy Bang commune of
Thua Thien Hue province on 7 March 2005, injured a 17 year-old boy while
he was hoeing to find dirt worms for ducks in his garden. The explosion
from unknown ordnance caused him unconscious. He was then taken to Hue
Central Hospital for first aid and treatment. It was reported that he
received a lot of fragments in his face, hands, legs and the whole body.
Because of severe injury in the eyes, he could not open his eyes after
the accident. He is now under special treatment in the Emergency
Department of Hue Hospital and still half conscious and half unconscious. (photo)

� (Phan Thanh Thien) An accident happened to 2 young men in
Trieu Thuong commune, Trieu Phong district, Quang Tri province on 11
March 2005 while they were working on the field where is 20 km from
their homes. The explosion from unknown ordnance caused them both badly
injured in the entire body. They also received a lot of fragments in
face, hands and legs. After the accident, they were taken to the
district health center for first aid and then to Quang Tri provincial
hospital for intensive care and treatment. (photo, hospital video)

� (Tran Thien Chien) A new accident happened in Cam Tuyen
commune, Cam Lo district of Quang Tri province on 12 March 2005, injured
a 15 year-old boy while he was hoeing to find dirt worms for ducks far
from his house about 1,2 km. The explosion from a cluster bomb badly
holed his small intestine. He was then taken to the district Health
center for first aid and then to Quang Tri provincial Hospital for
intensive treatment. It was said that there are a lot of UXO and bombs
in the area where he was looking for dirt worms. (photo)

. (Ho Van Nhoi) A new accident happened to a 15 year-old ethnic kid (Van
Kieu group) in Huong Hiep commune, Dakrong mountainous district of Quang
Tri province on 13 Mar. He is expected to be the breadwinner in his family but has no
employment. He thus often goes to collect scrap metals for an instable
income of from VND 20,000 to VND 30,000 per day. A cluster bomb
detonated while he was collecting scrap metals in a place of 30 km from
his home and badly injured him in abdomen, hands and legs. He was then
taken to the district Health center for first aid and is now in Quang
Tri provincial Hospital for intensive treatment. (photo)

Clear Path International
Serving Landmine Survivors, their Families and their Communities

Tel: 84 53 857 718
Fax: 84 53 857 719
Khe May Lake Guesthouse
Ward 3, Dong Ha town
Quang Tri province
Viet Nam