BH MAC: BiH most affected, scale of damage cannot be assessed yet

The first meeting of the Regional Expert Team, comprising representatives from the Croatian Mine Action Centre, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre, and the Mine Action Centre of the Republic of Serbia, was held, reports the news agency Patria. It was stated at the meeting that the natural disasters have most affected Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that the scale of damage and future problems cannot yet be assessed.

The following conclusions were reached at the meeting:

 - that the centres will exchange information and data on the mine situation in flooded areas daily through the members of the Expert Team, and at least weekly once the situation stabilises

- that after the water recedes, there will be an increased danger from mines and UXO, and that all centres will pay additional attention to educating the population, participants in the rehabilitation of flooded areas, as well as the media, who can help in educating and warning the population about the additional danger after the water recedes;

- that after the water recedes, the focus will be on urgent marking, as well as establishing expert regulations for action in such situations;

- that the centres, in accordance with their capabilities, will point out the lack of funds for carrying out humanitarian demining operations in locations affected by floods and landslides and propose a joint regional project for applications to donors.
 

UNDP has published maps of areas affected by natural disasters with the current mine situation on its website www.ba.undp.org, which are available to the public, i.e., citizens, for informational purposes. Based on the instructions of the Commission for Demining in BiH, the work of the Mine Action Centre of BiH teams will be focused on activities to warn the population about the danger of mines and UXO and marking mine-suspected locations.

- We especially draw the attention of citizens not to undertake any activities on their own to remove mines and UXO. If they notice any, we appeal to them not to touch, move, or take them to landfills, and to immediately inform the competent trained and specialized organizations in BiH (Civil Protection in BiH, police, members of the Armed Forces of BiH, and BHMAC teams) – stated MAC.