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Press Release WHO/39 15 July 1999 |
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WHO FINDS HEAVY TOLL FROM LAND MINES IN KOSOVO About 150 Kosovar Albanians have been maimed or killed by explosions of mines or unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the month since they began returning to their homes from refugee camps in neighbouring countries, a new World Health Organization (WHO) study finds. The incidence rate of anti-personnel mine injuries is approximately 10 per 100,000 population during this first month of returns. This rate largely exceeds the rate found in many other countries affected by mines and UXOs. Seventy-one percent of the victims are younger than 24 years old. The large majority of victims (95%) are boys or men. The study also revealed that in some areas, such as Prizren and Gjakova, up to 45% of hospital beds in the surgical and orthopedics wards are occupied by survivors of mine or UXO explosions. The international community should be alerted to the extremely high rate of anti-personnel mine and UXO injuries and deaths. "This rate is expected to remain high. As the population returns to work in fields and pastures and collects firewood for the winter, we can expect many more similar maimings and deaths," said Dr Etienne Krug, Medical Officer in WHO's Violence and Injury Prevention Unit. WHO applauds the mine awareness and demining efforts already being conducted. "To prevent as many as possible of these injuries and deaths from occurring, we need an urgent increase in demining and mine awareness efforts as well as both improved data collection systems to monitor such health threats, and increased material and technical support to the health facilities in Kosovo to treat victims," added Krug. The Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia signed a Military Technical Agreement with NATO on 13 June 1999. During the four following weeks more than 600,000 Kosovar refugees returned home. In response to this huge influx and the dangers which land mines and UXO posed to these people, WHO conducted a study between 7 and 14 July 1999 to determine the number of mine victims since 13 June and the circumstances in which the mine/UXO injuries occur. The study is only part of WHO's humanitarian efforts in Kosovo. Other activities include the coordination of agencies providing assistance in the health sector, the development of a comprehensive surveillance system for all diseases and injuries in collaboration with the Institute for Public Health, the monitoring of compliance of drug donations with international guidelines, the preparation of a plan of action for the reconstruction and enhancement of health services, and technical assistance in hospital and health staff management. For further information, journalists can contact Gregory Hartl, Office of Press and Public Relations, WHO, Geneva. Telephone (41 22) 791 44 58. Fax (41 22) 791 48 58. E-Mail: hartlg@who.int All WHO Press Releases, Fact Sheets and Features as well as other information on this subject can be obtained on Internet on the WHO home page http://www.who.int
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