War hits children

More than 5,000 children in Chechnya need artificial limbs, having suffered because of explosive devices, says the Chechen newspaper Groznenskii Rabochii.

The feature claims there are more than 0.5 million explosive devices across Chechnya, according to official information. Ten thousand people have been killed or disabled by bombs and landmines since the beginning of the first Chechen campaign, according to the newspaper's information.

The parents of most disabled children cannot afford even a Russian-made artificial limb which costs up to 15,000 roubles, the features says, according to Interfax.

"Blown up small shepherds, young mowers, schoolchildren who on weekends change pens for woodcutter's axes are the sad statistics of our time," notes Groznenskii Rabochii.

"Experts think people are off their guard because of the present relatively peaceful stage, as it is often forgotten than mine warfare continues much longer than the usual one with its bombings, shelling, and shootings," the feature author emphasises.

Two underage shepherds were killed by a mine on the outskirts of Noibera, Gudermes district, just several days ago.

Two boys, 12 and 14, triggered a mine on the outskirts of Novyi Sharoi, Achkhoi-Martan district, on 30 May.

According to UNICEF, 717 children suffered because of landmine explosions in Chechnya between 1994 and 2004. One hundred and fourteen of them were killed.

• One day in Chechnya
• Phantom menace
• Mines kill 100 in Azerbaijan

More about children in North Caucasus:

• Human Rights Practices in Russia's North Caucasus - 2004