GfbV calls for immediate move of the camp residents and decontamination of the site

The President of the Society for Threatened Peoples International (GfbV), Tilman Zülch, warmly welcomes the resolution of the European Parliament on Kosovo, in which among other points the situation of the Roma and Ashkali in the IDP camps Osterode and Česmin Lug/ Česmin Lukë in Nordmitrovica/Nordmitrovicë, which are contaminated by lead, is described as highly disturbing. These were set up on top of deposits from the Trepca mine, which was closed in the year 2000.

"This resolution, which was passed yesterday, is an important signal and now others must follow", said Zülch. "It is urgent that the government of Kosovo closes rapidly the camps and moves the inhabitants of the immediate vicinity to areas of Kosovo which do not have health risks. The people must be given comprehensive medical care and the EU must provide the funds needed. Any sale of the mine site must be accompanied by the requirement that the deposit heaps, which are contaminated by heavy metals, be removed. For the Albanian and Serb residents in the proximity of the site are also affected by the contamination." A letter in this vein has been sent today by the GfbV to the governments of all the EU member states.

The GfbV sees no indications that the situation of the Roma and Ashkali has improved since the declaration of independence of Kosovo in February 2008. The young state lacks the funds needed to affect an improvement. All 638 inhabitants of the camps, among them 324 children (217 being under the age of ten) are still exposed to extreme degrees of heavy metal contamination, including lead, arsenic, antimony, cadmium and manganese. Only 50 of the 141 families are to be moved.