Madam, – Having crossed swords over many years with Valerie Hughes (February 26th), it gives me particular satisfaction to congratulate her on her letter and to fully support it. Permit me to add a detail of which she may be unaware, and which reinforces her statement that these Roma have been cynically abandoned by the international community.
When the camps were set up on this leadmine waste, UN forces constructed a football pitch on the same site, the only entertainment facility for the youngsters. One can only imagine the additional harm caused to them by breathing in toxic dust raised during any game. Initially, members of UN forces also used this pitch, but when, they soon started developing health problems, this practice stopped, and they have been forbidden any activity in this area.
On numerous occasions, the Serbian government approached UN administrators requesting that these Roma be moved to a safer site, to no avail. One can only hope the new EU administration will deal with this problem with the utmost urgency. – Yours, etc,