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.

Map of Balkans with Kosovo circled in red. (Map courtesy NATO)

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.

Pancevo was struck by NATO bombs April 15. (Photo courtesy Pancevo HIP)

"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.

B52H Stratofortress bomber (Photo courtesy stratfor.com)

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.