06/09/2005

In two reports dated July 2004 and October 2004, WHO documented the high level of lead found in the blood of several Roma children in the three Roma camps located in the North Mitrovica and Zvecan Municipalities of Kosovo. This infant lives in one of these camps. The acceptable level of lead in the blood is no more 10 micrograms per deciliter. WHO found in the camps of Chesminluc and Zitkovac that one-third of the children tested had over 65+ micrograms per deciliter. Due to the alarming levels of lead found in several of these children, these reports called for several immediate actions, including the immediate evacuation of these Roma IDP camps due to the urgent threat against the health of these populations. This infant and his family have yet to be evacuated.