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CNN World Report

National Agencies Provide Aid to Mine Victims in Kabul

Aired June 24, 2001 - 14:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: As Afghanistan continues to suffer from more than two decades of war and drought, the civilian population is increasingly threatened by landmines. Switzerland's Leman Bleu TV shows us what one national agency is doing to help with landmines around Kabul.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAN POWELL, LEMAN BLEU TV, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two decades of conflict in Afghanistan has left the country strewn with landmines; many dating back to the Russian invasion. While the ongoing fighting places civilians in renewed danger. Poor roads and inaccessible terrain make systematic de-mining impossible.

Hundreds of people suffer death and disability each year; this war torn country does not have the resources nor the expertise to care for its victims alone. The main center helping mine victims is run by the International Committee of the Red Cross, based in Kabul, the capital. It was set up ten years ago by Alberto Cairo.

ALBERTO CAIRO, INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS: One million people have been wounded during this 20 years of war. Fortunately only part of them have been amputated, so we estimate 50,000 Afghans have been -- lost one leg or one arm. It is already quite a big number because even if today we stop, there are no more new patients, still there is work for the next 50 years.

POWELL: Parts for artificial limbs are also made here at the center and dispatched around the country. Today, Alberto is taking a batch of artificial feet to help mine victims living in one of Afghanistan's least accessible areas: the Panshir (ph) Region, behind the Taliban front line. It's a difficult and dangerous journey, starting with a five-hour drive to the foot of the Panshir (ph) Mountains.

The road ends at the village of Shuque (ph). Next comes the steep five kilometer climb up to a narrow pass, the last remaining trade route over the mountains.

Container loads of rocks placed at intervals can be exploded at any moment to block the path completely. Since Alberto's journey increased tension has resulted in the last route over the mountains being closed. The top of the pass marks the limit between Taliban and opposition-held territory. At the center in (UNINTELLIGIBLE), the parts are eagerly awaited; 41-year-old Sha Agur (ph) is an ex-fighter who lost his leg in a mine accident 15 years ago.

The new foot enables his artificial leg to be completed so that he can walk again.

This is Jan Powell of Laman Bleu Television, Geneva, Switzerland, for the CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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