Indian peacekeepers provide prostheses to victims

United Nations, Apr 24: The famous Jaipur Foot,' which helped many injured and physically challenged people, has come to the rescue of people in another part of the world.

Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon(UNIFIL) are providing the artificial limb to victims of mine and cluster bombs in a special project at their base in the southern part of the country.

According to information available yesterday at UN headquarters in New York, the peacekeepers identified about 100 Lebanese people who could benefit from the artificial limb. They got free medical advice and fittings by a team flown from India for the project, which is being funded by the Arab Finance House bank.

The Jaipur Foot' is named after the capital of Rajasthan, where it was developed and is still exclusively made.

The ten-day clinic opened on April 14 and closes tomorrow. About ten patients have been fitted with prosthetic limbs each day.

While in Lebanon, the Indian specialists are also training local technicians to provide after-care treatment to those who receive artificial limbs.

There are an estimated 14,000 troops in UNIFIL. Though no precise figure of Indian peacekeepers is available, it is believed that they number between 500 and 600.

India has been a member of UNIFIL since its inception in March 1978. Among other things, UNIFIL was created by the United Nations to ensure Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and help the Lebanese government exercise its authority in the Israel border region.

The United Nations has extended UNIFIL's term till August 31, 2007.

UNI