UN report calls for helping landmine victims in Egypt

The report of a UN mission on removing land mines in Egypt called on the World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN agencies to help anti-personnel mines victims in Egypt.

The report was read out by UN development program (UNDP) Assistant Representative Amin Sharqawi at a conference on demining and developing the northern coast.

"The Egyptian government and UN should work out a strategy to promote the international community awareness of the seriousness of the 50-year-old mine problem in Egypt," the report said.

The report noted that the Health Ministry and the Egyptian Red Crescent are capable of offering assistance to land mine victims in Egypt.

Meanwhile, Dean of the Social Work Faculty Rashad Ahmed Abdel Latif warned of the seriousness of the mine problem worldwide.

There are about 100 million mines in more than 70 world states. About 26,000 people are killed annually in mine incidents, according to world statistics.

"The Middle East and North African are by far the worst hit regions in the world," Abdel Latif said.

In opening the conference Prime Minister Atef Ebeid said it is believed that the Axis powers and the Allies planted more than 20 million mines during World WarII.

"Removing a single mine costs 500 dollars on average. A total of 15,000 Egyptians were either killed or maimed by these mines," he added.

"Egypt cleared 11 million mines during the period 1988-1993 at a high cost," he said.