Abkhazia
Casualties and Victim Assistance
Casualty Overview
The last mine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties were reported in 2010, when HALO Trust reported three mine/ERW casualties.[1]
Since 1992, HALO recorded 706 mine/ERW casualties (158 killed; 548 injured), including more than 400 civilians. The data was not considered to be comprehensive.
The ICRC launched a mine/ERW data collection and needs assessment project in Abkhazia in 2011, which continued in Abkhazia through 2015.[2]
There was no specific victim assistance coordination in Abkhazia. The needs of mine/ERW survivors are included in the broader services for persons with disabilities, including conflict survivors.
In April 2015, funding arrangements for regional associations of persons with disabilities as a result of war were agreed between the Fund for the War Disabled of Abkhazia and the associations. It was agreed that the fund would not only support the organizations themselves, but also the specific services to be provided to veterans with disabilities.[3] Under instruction from the president of Abkhazia, in mid-2015, lists of combatants who became disabled during the war of 1992–1993 were being revised.[4]
[1] HALO casualty data provided by email from Ismet Zade, Deputy Program Manager, HALO, 15 March 2011; response to Monitor questionnaire by HALO, 4 March 2011; and email from Andrew Moore, HALO, 26 September 2012. In September 2011, an adult male was injured while trying to open the shell of a grenade launcher in an abandoned garage in Sukhumi. “Explosion in Sukhumi: grenade launcher shell explodes,” Expert Club, 6 September 2011. This casualty was not included in the data for 2011.
[2] Email from Herbi Elmazi, Regional Weapon Contamination Advisor, Regional Delegation for the Russian Federation, ICRC, 9 April 2015.
[3] “On the budget of the state extra budget fund of disabled of the War of Abkhazia in 1992 - 1993 for 2015,” APSNY Press (Sukhumi), 1 April 2015.
[4] “Lists of combatants who became disabled during the war of Abkhazia will be reviewed,” APSNY Press, 12 June 2015.