NOTES:

• 1. With the exception of the VVAF village level surveys of Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, and Croatia [Roberts & Williams 1995]; the Mozambique data supplied by Ascherio et al. [1995]; and the Vietnam data from Stover and McGrath [1991], all other figures indicate total number of amputees identified by the relevant surveys, not just those resulting from landmines. Other causes might include UXO, war-related injuries, infections and disease, vehicle or other accidents, occupational injuries, and untreated snake bites [Stover & McGrath 1991:59; Thann 1994:19].

• 2. Roberts & Williams [1995:74, 109, 152, 199, & 236].

• 3. Stover & McGrath [1991:59]; Anderson et al. [1993:126-127 & 142-143]; McGrath et al. [1993:26]; ICRC [1994:16]; Maddocks [1994:39]; ICRC [1995:2].

• 4. Stover & Charles [1991:23].

• 4a. Phnom Penh Needs Survey, ICRC 1991 [Thann 1994:7 & 8].

• 4b. Banteay Meanchey Needs Survey, ICRC 1992-1993 [Thann 1994:7 & 8].

• 4c. Kompong Speu Needs Survey, American Red Cross 1992-1993 [Thann 1994:7 & 8].

• 5a. Ascherio et al. [1995:722-723].

• 6. Maddocks [1994:39]; ICRC [1995:2].

• 6a. Fine et al. [1992:23].

• 7. Surgeons in the USA, with a population of 220 000 000, performed no more than 10 000 amputations in 1989 on patients with traumatic injuries. This equates with 1 trauma amputee per 22 000 Americans per year [Anderson et al. 1993:126-127].

• 8. Stover and McGrath state that 'there are 60 000 amputees in Vietnam (out of a population of 75 million) who were crippled by the Vietnam War or by leftover debris such as unexploded mines, booby traps or artillery shells. This means one out of every 1,250 Vietnamese is handicapped as a result of the war' [1991:59]. This ratio of 1:1 250 equates to 80 per 100 000. In contrast, Anderson et al. cite a lower ratio of 1:2 500 (or 40 per 100 000) [1993:126], as does Gray [in ICRC 1993:63]. INTERPRETATION: Amputees represent an alarmingly high proportion of the population in those countries affected by landmines. Per capita amputee ratios provide a useful insight into the impact of landmine contamination, by acting as a surrogate indicator for the number of landmine casualties in a given population. However, the data merely provides an indication of the cumulative number of casualties who survive as amputees. It does not indicate rates per annum or change over time. Significantly, the data does not include those who died as a result of their injuries nor those who received other injuries (such as penetrating shrapnel wounds, vision and hearing loss, or burns).

References

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