USA/YUGOSLAVIA: FOURTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL WHO LOST BOTH HER LEGS AFTER STEPPING ON LAND MINE IN KOSOVO

Record ID: 647748

  • Title: USA/YUGOSLAVIA: FOURTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL WHO LOST BOTH HER LEGS AFTER STEPPING ON LAND MINE IN KOSOVO
  • Date: 7th January 2000
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 7, 2000) (RVN) 1. LV/CU: EXTERIOR HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY (2 SHOTS) 0.11 2. SV: IBADETE THAQI WITH HER MOTHER AT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH WALLACE JORDAN PRESENTING A GIANT TEDDY BEAR 0.38 3. SV: (SOUNDBITE)(English) DOCTOR DAVID L. HELFET, LEAD DOCTOR FOR IBADETE CASE "There is no question in our minds that Ibadete will leave here walking without assistance, and its just a matter now of making sure that the rehabilitation, she doesn't need doctors anymore, she needs rehabilitation and she needs prosthesis" 0.53 KOSOVO, YUGOSLAVIA (FILE) (RVN) 4. SLV: SERB GUNS FIRING 0.58 5. LV: HOUSES WITH SMOKE RISING (2 SHOTS) 1.05 6. SLV: REFUGEES FLEEING 1.12 NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNTIED STATES (JANUARY 7, 2000) (RVN) 7. SV: IBADETE YAWNING AND SMILING PAN DOWN TO HER WHEELCHAIR 1.25 8. WIDE/SV:PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRANSLATOR GIVING IBADETE'S ANSWER "She is so happy and she want to thank everybody for all the effort and for everything you are doing." (2 SHOTS) 1.36 9. SV: IBADETE MEETING PEOPLE AT HOSPITAL 1.59 10. VARIOUS OF REHABILITATION ROOM (4 SHOTS) 2.18 11. SV: (SOUNDBITE) (English) WALLACE JORDAN WHO SPEARHEADED CAMPAIGN TO BRING IBADETE TO NEW YORK "I'm overwhelmed I'm still in shock, probably more so that she is. Because its extraordinary to get something like this to fruition. It's a miracle and I hope this will bring light to Princess Diana's campaign planted there, I hope we will be able to ban landmines in this century, as we couldn't do it in the last one." 2.39 KOSOVO, YUGOSLAVIA (FILE) (RVN) 11. SV/SLV: CANADIAN TROOPS TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT LANDMINES (2 SHOTS) 2.45 12. SLV: MINES ON DISPLAY 2.49 NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNTIED STATES (JANUARY 7, 2000) (RVN) 11. SV: IBADETE IN WHEELCHAIR BEING PUSHED OUR OF PRESS CONFERENCE, AUDIO OF HER SAYING IN ENGLISH "Thanks very much to you." 2.59 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 22nd January 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES AND GLOGOVAC, KOSOVO, YUGOSLAVIA
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA1D3ARLE4V5ZPRPFOKKRE2MGYW
  • Story Text: A fourteen-year-old girl who lost both her legs after
    stepping on a land mine in Kosovo has arrived in New York for
    free medical treatment.

    Fourteen-year old Ibadete Thaqi and her mother Shukri
    returned to their home in June 1998, after hiding out in the
    hills fearing Serb reprisals during a NATO bombing campaign
    aimed at halting ethnic cleansing.

    Ibadete was the victim of a bobby trap, left by retreating
    Serb soldiers.A mine left under a water bucket that she
    picked up to help in the clean up of the family's home.

    She lost both legs, one leg above the knee and the other
    below, and spent weeks in a Pristina hospital recovering.

    The Hospital for Special Surgery will supply artificial
    legs especially designed for Ibadete, and give her daily
    physical therapy for up to four months.Other charities will
    provide housing for the mother and daughter, who speak no
    English.

    "There is no question in our minds that Ibadete will leave
    here walking without assistance, and its just a matter now of
    making sure that the rehabilitation - she doesn't need doctors
    anymore, she needs rehabilitation and she needs prosthesis"
    David Helfet, the senior doctor on her case.

    After a news report on U.S.television viewers began a
    campaign to get Ibadete treatment at the New York hospital for
    Special Surgery.With help from the New York City Comptroller
    - Alan Hevesi, United and Lufthansa Airlines and Pullitzer
    prize winning journalist - Wallace Jordan Ibadete finally
    arrived in the United States Thursday (January 6).

    Ibadete spoke through an interpreter at a press briefing
    given Friday (January 7) at the Hospital for Special
    Surgery"She is so happy and she want to thank everybody for
    all the effort and for everything you are doing"
    Anti-personnel landmines are blamed for killing 25,000
    people year and maiming many more.Worldwide, some 100 million
    mines are waiting for a victim, mainly in war-torn third world
    countries and every year more landmines are set than are
    removed.

    Pullitzer prize winning journalist Wallace Jordan
    spearheaded the campaign to bring Ibadete and her mother to
    New York for the special treatment "I'm overwhelmed I'm still
    in shock, probably more so that she is.Because its
    extraordinary to get something like this to fruition.It's a
    miracle and I hope this will bring light to Princess Diana's
    campaign planted there, I hope we will be able to ban landmines
    in this century, as we couldn't do it in the last one."
    Canadian anti-landmine campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize
    winner Jody Williams visited Kosovo in the summer last year to
    put in place a mine awareness programme for children returning
    home at the end of the war, but that was too late for Ibadete.

    Despite pressure the United States has yet to ratify the
    international landmine ban treaty, signed in Ottawa over two
    years ago.


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