-Caveat Lector-
>From Environmental News
> Damage to Yugoslav Environment "Immense" UN Team Reports
>
> NEW YORK, New York, June 29, 1999 (ENS) - Throughout the Federal
> Republic of Yugoslavia, the 11 weeks of NATO air strikes that
> ended June 10 have had "a devastating impact" on the environment,
> industry, employment, essential services and agriculture, a newly
> released United Nations report says. Land, air, rivers, lakes and
> underground waters as well as the food chain and public health
> are affected.
>
> The report of the Inter-Agency Needs Assessment Mission that UN
> Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent to Kosovo and other areas of
> the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia between May 16 and 27 was
> released publicly today. It was transmitted to the UN Security
> Council June 9.
>
> <Picture: map>
>
> Map of Balkans with Kosovo circled in red. (Map courtesy NATO)
>
> The Mission was led by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
> Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
> The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was represented
> by Bakary Kante of Senegal, until recently, chair of an
> implementing panel for the UN climate change treaty.
>
> The primary objective of the Mission was to provide an initial
> assessment of the emergency needs of civilian populations and of
> the medium-term rehabilitation requirements in the country in
> light of the approaching winter.
>
> The environmental, socio-economic, and physical toll of the
> conflict throughout the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and beyond
> is "immense" and "has created a new type of complex humanitarian
> emergency," the report says.
>
> The Mission team's report repeatedly calls for "urgent"
> specialized environmental assessment and remedial action focused
> on the environment.
>
> The UN team reported that the destruction of public water supply
> systems in major urban areas has increased the risk of waterborne
> diseases. It also has had an impact on the overall hygiene
> conditions in health institutions, particularly in maternity
> departments.
>
> "A comprehensive technical assessment should be carried out to
> assess the impact of environmental hazards on public health," the
> report recommended.
>
> A large number of industrial facilities - allegedly more than 80
> at the time the Mission took place - have been attacked and
> destroyed in the NATO air campaign.
>
> "Damage to oil refineries, fuel dumps and chemical and fertilizer
> factories, as well as the toxic smoke from huge fires and the
> leakage of harmful chemicals into the soil and the water table
> have contributed to as yet unassessed levels of environmental
> pollution in some urban areas, which may in turn have a negative
> impact on health and ecological systems," the Mission team
> reported.
>
> <Picture: Pancevo>
>
> Pancevo was struck by NATO bombs April 15. (Photo courtesy
> Pancevo HIP)
>
> The Mission visited Pancevo, 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) northeast
> of Belgrade, where the destruction of a petrochemical plant has
> resulted in the release of various chemical fluids - such as
> vinyl-chloride, chlorine, ethylene-dichloride, propylene - into
> the atmosphere, water and soil.
>
> "This may pose a serious threat to health in the region, as well
> as to ecological systems in the broader Balkans and European
> region," the team said. "Many of the compounds released in these
> chemical accidents can cause cancer, miscarriages and birth
> defects. Others are associated with fatal nerve and liver
> diseases. A proper scientific and technical fact-finding mission
> under UNEP's lead is urgently called for."
>
> The pollutants which have been released could also have a
> negative effect in the short and long term on the nutrition
> chain. The lack of protective substances, as well as fertilizer,
> could also endanger the survival of certain plants. Land, rivers,
> lakes and underground waters may be polluted due to the spillage
> of petrochemicals, oil spills and other chemicals, the Mission
> team said.
>
> "The ability of the local authorities to undertake
> decontamination and recovery in an environmentally sound manner
> is hampered by shortages of material and equipment," the team
> reported.
>
> <Picture: B52>
>
> B52H Stratofortress bomber (Photo courtesy stratfor.com)
>
> Given the gravity of potential environmental consequences of the
> conflict, a more detailed assessment of the full extent of the
> environmental impact is urgently required. A fact-finding mission
> should be undertaken involving the UN Development Programme, the
> UN Economic Commission for Europe, UNEP and Habitat.
>
> The United Nations and its specialized agencies should seek
> strategic partnerships with the European Union, the Bretton Woods
> institutions, and other major actors, including non-governmental
> organizations and bilateral donors, to prepare reconstruction
> plans for Kosovo, as soon as possible, the Mission team
> recommended. "Reconstruction should ultimately extend to the
> Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a whole: economic, social and
> environmental programmes will have to be carried out to repair
> the damage caused by the conflict," the team said.
>
> Organizations and offices participating in the Mission were: the
> Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),
> the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International
> Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office for the Coordination
> of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme
> (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/UNHCS),
> the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the
> United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Office of the High
> Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Mine Action
> Service in the Department of Political Affairs, the World Food
> Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Save the
> Children Fund.
>
>
>
> © Environment News Service (ENS) 1999. All Rights Reserved.
> <Picture>
<<Maybe if Al doesn't make it back to the White House, he can
write a book on the environment ... >>
A<>E<>R
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