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Progress towards a
mine-free world |
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Dr Mohammed Haider
Reza
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan
“Disabled victims from
mines represent between 4 and 10 per cent of our population,
that’s up to 2 million people. Part of the US$
480 million we’ve asked for will go to the disabled.
The Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled gives cash, not
very much, 300 afghanis per person (which will buy
about 2kg of meat) per month. We have to keep in mind
that the country is coming out of 25 years of war.
Imagine multiplying that by 2 million people.
“I can say Afghanistan
is in the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Nowadays, there are micro-credit schemes [for the
disabled] as well as training programmes to become
a tailor, carpenter, or to do bicycle repairs. The
majority of office jobs are open to them, but the
problem might be that they are not able to read and
write. I think the best thing to do is to promote
the rights of the disabled, also as regular employees.”
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 Katarzyna
Derlicka
International cooperation department, Polish Red Cross
“Anti-personnel mines are not
just an issue in Angola and Afghanistan, after the Second
World War, Poland was the most mined country in the world
with 86 million mines and UXO [unexploded ordnance] and still
today we have mine injuries and deaths. There have been over
8,000 civilian deaths due to mines since the end of the Second
World War when 86 per cent of the land was contaminated. Bomb
disposal teams are called up to 10,000 times each year when
people discover mines and UXO while cultivating or playing
or walking in the forests. Sometimes they are found on construction
sites or new roads, some of the mines still work, some don’t.
Children are mainly the victims because they play with them.”
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Peter Herby
Head of mines, Small Arms unit, ICRC
“The review conference
has demonstrated a number of things: first, it has
brought awareness that the job isn’t finished.
Second, the next five years are a crucial period for
the Convention and the removal of mines in that period.
Third, much more needs to be done to improve assistance
to victims. The Nairobi action plan is solid, but
it is the actions that will save lives and bring dignity
to victims. “To use a medical analogy, we have
the prescription for ending the epidemic of anti-personnel
mine casualties. The medicine is working — there
is a huge drop in the number of victims. But you have
to keep taking the medicine, you can’t take
half your antibiotics — you could be worse off.
If we don’t take all the medicine — this
unique Ottawa process which has brought together three-quarters
of the world — couldn’t complete and fulfil
its promises, it could make it more difficult to fulfil
other humanitarian issues.”
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Lino Lobuya
Cow herder, southern Sudan
ICRC surgical hospital, Lokichokio,
northern Kenya “I knew there were mines, but
I didn’t know where — I was just looking
after my cattle and then I woke up in hospital. I
still live in the same place, but I no longer take
my cattle there. But others still go there to find
cattle they have lost and women also go there to collect
firewood and there are still injuries. “One
difference [since the amputation] is that today when
I lose my cattle, I don’t have the power to
go the distance to find them. I stay in one place.
The drought made me suffer more. My community thinks
I am wasted and useless. I can’t help the community,
I am not important, I am a reject.”
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Guenter Wimhoefer
ICRC surgeon
“The effects of landmines
on humans are enormous, particularly for children
— a young person might need dozens of prosthesis
during their lifetime — it’s a lifelong
misery and problem that affects the quality of life.
As a surgeon who has worked with war wounded for 18
years, treating mine injuries is depressing, tough
work compared to shrapnel or gunshot wounds, it is
not unemotional; the destruction of a body, genitals,
face. There is less fighting in Afghanistan, Angola
and Cambodia but the victims continue, you spend whole
nights cleaning up wounds, you feel angry and helpless
— you don’t want to see these wounds any
more. But you are repairing, you remove one, possibly
two legs, trying to give back some quality of life,
the wound heals, the patient is fitted with a prosthesis
and their smile returns, they may play soccer —
it’s very important. There is hope.”
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