Red Cross and Chechen press to raise awareness of mines

Chechen media will inform the public about the problems of landmines in the republic, according to the agreement made at the meeting between representatives of the Chechen press and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Grozny on December 24.

"The aim of our meeting today is to work out a strategy for mine risk education in the media," said organizer Luiza Khazhgeriyeva, coordinator of the ICRC's mine/UXO awareness programme in the Northern Caucasus.

According to Ms. Khazhgeriyeva, the ICRC registers some 3,000 - 5,000 people who suffered from the explosion of a landmine or unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Chechnya.

"People are being injured or killed when picking fire-wood, for example. They go to the forest although they are aware of the danger, because otherwise they can't heat up their homes," she said.

"The Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines was ratified by most countries. Unfortunately, such states as Russia, the United States, Turkey and China are not among the signatories," Ms. Khazhgeriyeva noted.

According to her, there are five aspects of demining: clearance, marking and post-clearance documentation of mined areas; mine risk education; community involvement; explosive ordnance disposal; and assistance to victims and people living in mined areas.

"Journalists need to know this to be able to cover the issue correctly," she added.

The ICRC has been involved in the mine issue in Chechnya since 2002. Over this period it has published mine awareness books and leaflets and even staged a puppet theater show on the issue.

The ICRC is also going to cooperate with the Chechen Education Ministry in order to include "Mine Risk Education" into the Chechen school curriculum.