Victims of Landmines Increase by 150% in Colombia
DISNNET Press
Instead of reducing the permanent risk situation of Colombians living with so many landmines (also known as leg breakers) in their territory, there is an upward moving curve of accidental explosions and hundreds of new victims of this type of warfare devices, particularly in some geographical regions of the country.
A report that emerged during a seminar conducted in preparation for the participation of Colombia in the next Summit on the Elimination of Landmines, indicates that the number of victims has increased by 150%. In 2003 alone, 638 persons lost their lives in Colombia due to landmines.
Official reports insist that there were about 100,000 landmines planted in Colombia, but others indicate higher figures.
In Bogotá, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (also known as ICBL), organized a Seminar called: "Toward the Nairobi Summit and the Ban of Landmines in America". The participants reviewed the evolution and present situation of landmines in Colombia.
Colombia will ratify the elimination of landmines, as proposed by the Nairobi Summit. These activities began in the year 2000, pursuant to the Ottawa Convention.
Day by day, more and more Colombians become victims of landmines. There were 261 victims in 2001, 530 in 2002, and 638 in 2003.
Figures for the number of victims during 2003, indicate that there were 159 civilians, 462 military, 3 non governmental combatants, and 14 persons of unknown affiliation. Of the 2,568 victims killed during the last 13 years, 338 were children.
The most afflicted regions are: Antioquia, Santander, Norte de Santander, Bolívar, Arauca, Caquetá, Cesar, Cundinamarca, Meta, Putumayo, Cauca, Casanare, Valle, Tolima, Huila, Guaviare, and Sucre.
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