The incidence of landmine injuries in Kuito, Angola

Angola is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. Despite the vast effort made to clear landmines, very few accurate figures for casualty rates are available. The town of Kuito in central Angola is surrounded by minefields left after the 22-month siege by the rebel UNITA forces. Many are in close proximity to residential areas. This retrospective audit assesses the incidence of landmine injuries in the wake of the siege, and the levels of amputation resulting from these wounds. Between January and October 1995, 94 landmine injuries occurred (60 from anti-personnel mines, 34 from anti-tank mines). Mine injuries accounted for 11.8% of the admissions to the surgical ward of Kuito hospital, but for 20.2% of the total number of operations performed. The distribution of injuries between the sexes was roughly equal (33 males: 27 females), but women required more above-knee amputations than men (16/20 versus 14/27). Mortality from anti-personnel mines was 1.7% (1/60). Seventy per cent of all lower limb amputations in Kuito are performed as a result of landmine injury (53/76). Landmines exert a severe strain on already stretched surgical services, and a significant burden of morbidity on the population of Kuito.