SARAJEVO TRAGEDY SPURS NEW MINE PROTECTION MEASURES

SARAJEVO, April 16 (Hina) - The deaths of three children in Sarajevo last week caused by a mine left during the war spurred the United Nations Mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina to undertake additional measures aimed at preventing such tragedies. UN Mission spokesman in Sarajevo Douglas Coffman said last Thursday members of the International Police Task Force (IPTF) would organise a special course for local police with the aim of training them in preventive action and warning the people about the dangers of hidden mines. Sarajevo Canton Interior Ministry in cooperation with the Mine Action Centre (MAC) and the IPTF will also implement an action of marking all unmarked mine fields and citizens have been called to help with information as to their locations. The Bosnia-Herzegovina Assembly House of Representatives opened a discussion on the demining problem. At a session held last week MPs decided to set aside funds on a monthly basis for the mine clearance fund and sent an appeal to the international community to provide additional financial assistance regarding the problem. According to information by the MAC, since the beginning of 1996 until April 13, 298 persons have been killed by mines in Bosnia- Herzegovina. Eleven people were killed since the beginning of this year. Another 667 persons were gravely injured and 253 suffered light injuries. Most mine incidents occurred in the Bosnian Federation, Should the mine clearing continue at the same speed, it has been estimated the removal of mines could last for another 30 to 50 years. (hina) lml