DEMINING AND REHABILITATION OF MINE VICTIMS IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE IN 2000

Abstract

International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance is a non-profit organisation that was established by Slovenian government and in two and a half years of its existence, the fund proliferated itself as one of the main actors in the field of Mine Action in the region of South-Eastern Europe. From its beginning and by the end of the October 2000, 22 countries, 9 companies and 9 other institutions had donated about USD 21 million in donations and pledges to the Fund. With the US matching fund and its unilateral donation ITF raised 46 million USD earmarked for demining or mine victims assistance. Up to know we managed to demine through our funding mechanism more than 7 million sq. meters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 3778 mines and 10.173 UXOs found; 1,7 million square meters were demined in Croatia with 281 mines and 108 UXOs found; in Kosovo 1,8 million sq. meters sq. meters of land were cleared through demining and battle area clearance with 1008 mines and 310 UXOs found; more than 100.000 sq. meters were demined in Albania on Albania/Kosovo border with 798 mines and 100 UXOs found. We are always glad to share our experience in this area with other organisations. The second basic activity of the ITF is rehabilitation of mine victims. The rehabilitation is conducted in Slovenian Institute for Rehabilitation, which was activated in May 1998 and also in the rehabilitation centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There were 289 patients treated in ITF program in the period from September 1998 until August 2000 with the help of the ITF.