About Us
Our Research Products
Greece
Casualties and Victim Assistance
No new mine or explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties were identified in Greece in 2011.
In January 2012, local media reported that an Albanian man was injured by an explosive item said to be an antipersonnel mine in the forest along the Ioannina-Kakkavos national road.[1] Prior to this, four mine casualties were identified in 2008.[2] No casualties were identified from 2009 to 2011.
Between 1999 and 2008, the Monitor identified at least 108 landmine casualties (66 killed and 42 injured); the majority of casualties were non-Greek citizens. Between 1954 and 2007, at least 31 deminers were killed. From 1954 to 2002, 17 military personnel were injured in clearance operations.[3] In its 2011 reporting for the Convention on Conventional Weapons Amended Protocol II, Greece stated that “there are no mine victims” with reference to the completion of the clearance antipersonnel mines from the Greek-Turkish border.[4]
Victim Assistance
The total number of mine/ERW survivors in Greece is unknown.
The vast majority of casualties were migrants and asylum seekers entering Greece through border areas. The head of the clearance battalion reported that some 187 non-Greek citizens had been injured between 1995 and early 2007.[5]
In 2008, during a visit to Evros prefecture, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe reminded Greece that “the authorities must provide a prompt and generous assistance to all mine victims, especially migrants.”[6] Some support has been provided to survivors, but the Monitor found no evidence of full rehabilitative assistance made available to all known survivors. Any available victim assistance was abandoned when the economic crisis in the country began in 2009.[7]
As of mid-2012, two survivors were known to be still living in Greece, both with official status: one as a refugee and the other a migrant. There were no economic reintegration opportunities or psychological support for survivors. One survivor was involved in sport activities.[8] Survivors with “humanitarian refugee”status may be eligible for a small disability benefit. Survivors living without clear residency status relied on sporadic contributions from state institutions or public donations.[9]
Greece has legislation that protects the rights of persons with disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, access to buildings, and in the provision of other government services; the legislation is enforced, but access to buildings for persons with disabilities is poorly enforced.[10]
[1] “24-year old injured by a mine!” (“24χρονος ακρωτηριάστηκε από νάρκη!”), protothema.gr, 29 January 2012, http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/?aid=173759, accessed on 31 March 2012.
[2] ICBL, Landmine Monitor Report 2009: Toward a Mine-Free World (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada: October 2009), www.the-monitor.org.
[3] Landmine Monitor Report 2008, p. 401; and Landmine Monitor Report 2006, p. 450.
[4] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, (for calendar year 2011) Form B.
[5] Based on a declaration made by the head of the Minefield Clearance battalion, TENX. See ICBL, Landmine Monitor Report 2008: Toward a Mine-Free World (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada: October 2008), p. 401, www.the-monitor.org.
[6] Council of Europe, ‘“Greece must uphold all asylum-seekers’ rights’ says Commissioner Hammarberg in a new report,” 4 February 2009, www.coe.int/t/commissioner/news/2009/090204greece_EN.asp; and see ICBL, Landmine Monitor Report 2009: Toward a Mine-Free World (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada: October 2009), www.the-monitor.org.
[7] ICBL, Landmine Monitor Report 2009: Toward a Mine-Free World (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada: October 2009), www.the-monitor.org; and email from Louisa O’Brien, Monitor researcher, Athens, 20 October 2012.
[8] Monitor notes, “ICBL 20th Anniversary Sitting Volleyball Tournament- Southeast Europe,” Belgrade, May 2012; email from Louisa O’Brien, Athens, 20 October 2012; and ICBL, Landmine Monitor Report 2009: Toward a Mine-Free World (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada: October 2009), www.the-monitor.org.
[9] ICBL, Landmine Monitor Report 2009: Toward a Mine-Free World (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada: October 2009), www.the-monitor.org.
[10] US Department of State, “2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Greece,” Washington, DC, 24 May 2012.
Send us your feedback on this profile
Send the Monitor your feedback by filling out this form. Responses will be channeled to editors, but will not be available online. Click if you would like to send an attachment. If you are using webmail, send attachments to .