Being disabled in Cambodia

Abstract

I n the year 2000, more than 1000 people were injured by landmines. This is a much smaller number than in previous years, but still 1000 too many. These mines, produced in Russia, China, Vietnam, USA, and eastern European countries, were laid by all the factions in the civil war which was waged in Cambodia from 1970 until 1998. These mines litter large areas of Cambodia, particularly in the northwestern provinces. They make areas unsafe, hinder development and agriculture, and cause injury, death, and misery to thousands of villagers. Mine clearance is being done by the Cambodian Mine Action Centre, the Mines Advisory Group, and the Halo Trust. Many agencies are involved with programmes for medical assistance, rehabilitation devices, and psychosocial and economic integration and development programmes for survivors and communities affected by mines. Night of peace, night of peace, night of peace! The words are ringing in my ears as I roll my wheelchair in the candlelit procession through the streets of Cambodian landmine victims Lourdes. With Adolph Esquivel and Mairead Macguire, I had just spoken at the town centre calling for a world of peace, a world without Being disabled in Cambodia