When Peacekeepers Themselves Are Victims.

• Author: Hylla, Yvonne

On 17 March 1998, a Bell 212 helicopter crashed in a mountainous area of Guatemala, bordering Mexico. All nine passengers were members of the United Nations Mission for the Verification of Human Rights in Guatemala; seven lost their lives. One of the two survivors was severely burned and had to be evacuated to a clinic in Houston, Texas, United States. As soon as his state of health allowed it, he was evacuated to a hospital in New York where his family lived. After a few months, he recovered fully and was able to return to the field. The other survivor, whose neck bone had been broken, was kept in Guatemala at a specialized clinic. He also eventually recovered and was able to return to work.

Whenever a medical emergency occurs in one of the United Nations peacekeeping missions, the doctors of the United Nations Medical Service Division, located at the Organization's Headquarters in New York, take charge. In cooperation with medical personnel in the field, they decide whether or not an evacuation is necessary, contact the air ambulance and the staff of the hospital where the injured person is brought, and follow the patient's medical development through recovery.

"When peacekeeping expanded in the beginning of the 1990s, we were just starting", explains Dr. Ingrid Laux, former Director of the Division. "But by now the medical component of peacekeeping missions is very well established. If anything happens to a staff member, we will know within a few minutes and something will be done for the person." Her colleague, Dr. Serguei Oleinikov adds: "In terms of the field staff, we work around the clock, seven days a week. We never interrupt our service. Even on weekends and holidays, we have one doctor who is on call, and this doctor can be reached immediately."

Some of the principal causes of injuries are landmine and motor vehicle or air traffic accidents. But endemic diseases such as malaria and polio are also severe health threats. "When staff members accept to go on mission for the UN, they put themselves at high risk", Dr. Sudershan Narula says. For that reason, the Medical Service attempts to prepare personnel as fully as possible before they go abroad.

The first step is medical clearance. "We have to ensure that every person who goes on mission is physically capable of the work in the field", Dr. Narula emphasizes. This medical clearance is not only provided for staff members from Headquarters.

United Nations Medical Service physicians...