Mine victim assistance
HI is attending the Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty from 26-30 November 2018, in Geneva. The organisation is calling on governments to support assistance for victims whose needs have increased dramatically in recent years.
Conference of States Parties to the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty - November 2018 in Geneva | © Baptiste Chapuis / HI
The Landmine Monitor 2018, published last week, reports a third year of exceptionally high casualties caused by mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). For the calendar year 2017, the Monitor recorded 7,200 mine/ERW casualties. The report also points out that international funding for victim assistance remains far from adequate to meet a sharp rise in needs.
Multiple needs
Victims have many needs. They may need to be fitted with a prosthesis or orthosis, or require rehabilitation care and psychological support to overcome trauma caused by a mine accident.
A disabling injury often has an impact on the whole family, especially when the injured person contributed to the family’s income and can no longer work. A victim and his or her family and friends may therefore need economic and social support through help returning to work, an apprenticeship or training, for example.
HI's actions during the conference
During the conference, HI is organising several activities to draw the attention of State delegations to the need for victim assistance:
- Screening of films showing the sorts of ways HI supports mine survivors;
- Tuesday 27 November: HI presents the results of a study in Cambodia on victim assistance cooperation between a mine-affected country and a donor State;
- Thursday 29 November: HI outlines the benefits of setting up a network of mine survivors and people with disabilities in Latin America to uphold their rights;
- Our rehabilitation experts will share their experience in two workshops and numerous meetings with delegations throughout the week.
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