Angolan Clinics Treats Land Mines Victims

(10 July 08-RV) The International Committee of the Red Cross is handing over its physical rehabilitation programme for landmine victims in Angola to the Ministry of Health after nearly 30 years of ICRC support for three centres, in several cities throughout the country.

Between 1975 and 2002, thousands of civilians and military personnel were killed or wounded owing to the massive use of anti-personnel landmines and the extreme violence of the armed conflict in Angola.

The director of media relations for the ICRC in Geneva, Anna Schaaf told that us the staff skills and equipment at these centres are now at the point where the Angolan authorities can provide long-term support for Angolan mine victims without help from the ICRC.