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Nigeria air strike error: Eyewitness relieves horror | Nigeria air strike error: Eyewitness relieves horror |
(35 minutes later) | |
In a BBC interview, Alfred Davies, an MSF aid worker, relives the horror of this week's erroneous bombing by the Nigerian military of a camp for internally displaced people in Rann, in which more than 70 people - including women and children - were killed and many more wounded. | In a BBC interview, Alfred Davies, an MSF aid worker, relives the horror of this week's erroneous bombing by the Nigerian military of a camp for internally displaced people in Rann, in which more than 70 people - including women and children - were killed and many more wounded. |
Nigeria's military has admitted that the attack was intended to target Boko Haram militants in the north-eastern town. | Nigeria's military has admitted that the attack was intended to target Boko Haram militants in the north-eastern town. |
Alfred Davies says he and his small team were providing measles vaccination and giving food in a camp tent - when the first bomb exploded about 300m (980ft) from them. | Alfred Davies says he and his small team were providing measles vaccination and giving food in a camp tent - when the first bomb exploded about 300m (980ft) from them. |
"We had more than 100 people in the queue... waiting to get their supplies: babies, mothers... Everyone went on the ground after hearing the sound of the bomb... and everyone was terrified. | "We had more than 100 people in the queue... waiting to get their supplies: babies, mothers... Everyone went on the ground after hearing the sound of the bomb... and everyone was terrified. |
"There was confusion, chaos everywhere," he recalls, adding that "people didn't know where to go and what was happening." | "There was confusion, chaos everywhere," he recalls, adding that "people didn't know where to go and what was happening." |
Alfred Davies, MSF | |
"We saw this woman dead, with her twins sitting next to her... they were crying and touching their mother, and there was no response. They are orphans" | |
About five minutes later, Mr Davies says, the second bomb hit - about 20m from where the first one fell. | About five minutes later, Mr Davies says, the second bomb hit - about 20m from where the first one fell. |
Members of his team closer to where the bombs exploded then radioed him to tell that there were many wounded arriving for treatment in their tents. | Members of his team closer to where the bombs exploded then radioed him to tell that there were many wounded arriving for treatment in their tents. |
At this point, recalls the experienced project co-ordinator from Liberia, he ordered to change the strategy "from distribution to mass casualty response". | At this point, recalls the experienced project co-ordinator from Liberia, he ordered to change the strategy "from distribution to mass casualty response". |
"And immediately we started to treat people. In one hour we had 52 people," he says. | "And immediately we started to treat people. In one hour we had 52 people," he says. |
In one place, he remembers, there were 20 people laying on the ground "in a very bad condition: bellies open, intestines on the floor... it was terrible. And these people were saying: 'Help me, doctor! Can you help me?' | In one place, he remembers, there were 20 people laying on the ground "in a very bad condition: bellies open, intestines on the floor... it was terrible. And these people were saying: 'Help me, doctor! Can you help me?' |
"Wounded people kept on coming," Mr Davies continues, adding that very soon "our tents were full". | "Wounded people kept on coming," Mr Davies continues, adding that very soon "our tents were full". |
"Some of them died in our tents. | "Some of them died in our tents. |
"You're in a complete state of confusion - who should you treat first? | "You're in a complete state of confusion - who should you treat first? |
"It was terrible to leave someone who was in less pain and treat the more seriously wounded, but one had to make the choice," he admits. | "It was terrible to leave someone who was in less pain and treat the more seriously wounded, but one had to make the choice," he admits. |
"There were people who were bleeding profusely. All we could do at that moment was to put on bandages to cover wounds, until a doctor arrived. | "There were people who were bleeding profusely. All we could do at that moment was to put on bandages to cover wounds, until a doctor arrived. |
"Yes, I saw dead children. I saw intestines of the dead children on the floor," Mr Davies recalls. | "Yes, I saw dead children. I saw intestines of the dead children on the floor," Mr Davies recalls. |
He says that one of the victims was a woman who had been vaccinated just before the attack. | He says that one of the victims was a woman who had been vaccinated just before the attack. |
"We had given supplies to a woman with her baby twins and she was smiling, showing us her babies. | "We had given supplies to a woman with her baby twins and she was smiling, showing us her babies. |
"And (later) we saw this woman dead, with her twins sitting next to her... they were crying and touching their mother, and there was no response. They are orphans." | "And (later) we saw this woman dead, with her twins sitting next to her... they were crying and touching their mother, and there was no response. They are orphans." |