Bianet-An abandoned ammunition went of in the southeastern city of Şırnak, killing one child and injuring three others. The Ottawa Treaty, ratified by Turkey in 2003 obliges state parties to clear all abondened ammunition and protect civilians in risky regions.


 A child dies in the southeastern city of Şırnak while playing with an unexploded army ammunition. Three people, two of them children also got injured.

Şırnak Mayorship revealed in a report that the children found the abandoned ammunition in a street and it went of while they were playing with it.

The Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty, which Turkey ratified in 2003, foresees that state parties should clear all abandoned ammunition and anti-personel landmines.

As of 2007, it has been signed/accessioned by 155 countries. Forty states, including the People's Republic of China, Russian Federation and the United States, are not party to the Convention.

Furthermore, state parties to the Treaty are obliged to take the necessary cautions to protect civilians in risky regions.

Especially the southern regions of Turkey suffer from such casualities as both the Turkish army and the Kurdish guerillas leave ammunition that threatens civilians.

Local media covering the recent incident didn't mention those aspects and failed to provide a critical approach in its articles.

24.04.2007