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Government medical officers, the Sri Lanka Air Force and international agencies combined last week to save the life of an expatriate de-miner working to clear explosives in the Vanni, the United Nations announced yesterday.

The UN called the operation "an outstanding display of cooperation and commitment to the spirit of Humanitarian Mine Action".

The de-miner suffered injuries to his face and hands on November 12 and is now at a private hospital in Colombo in a stable condition. Humanitarian de-mining required a higher level of clearing explosives so that civilians can be permitted into the area.

Military de-mining leaves a percentage - sometimes as much as 20 per cent - of the explosives in the The foreign de-miner was injured when he attempted to defuse an anti-personnel mine.

After first aid at the Kilinochchi hospital he was taken to Mallawi and there treated by a joint team from the Sri Lankan Hospital services and the French NGO Medicines Sans Frontieres. Thereafter the UN ferried him to Vavuniya where an air ambulance from the 8th Squadron of the SLAF flew him to Colombo.

The UN Mines Action spokesman said "this unfortunate incident has, as a result, highlighted some of the benefits that can be derived from a coordinated approach to Mine Action such as access to excellent medical services, communication and medical evacuation."

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