OSBiH Deminers Cleared 903,326 m2 of Mines Last Year

(Patria) - The Analysis of Demining for 2024 was presented today at the "Rajlovac" barracks in Sarajevo, summarizing the successes of the BiH Armed Forces demining capacities last year.

It was an opportunity to once again highlight the successes achieved by the BiH Armed Forces in the demining process and to present the results achieved by the BiH Armed Forces, as the largest demining organization in BiH.



In the past year, despite facing various challenges, the BiH Armed Forces demining capacities implemented 61.28% of the anti-mine action plan, which is a respectable result.

A total of 903,326 m2 was cleared, and 14,732,303 m2 was returned to the end-users, i.e., civil structures and local communities.

This is a success that should be respected, especially since cleared and demined areas have been returned for use to local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, all with the aim of further developing our local communities.

In 2024, the BiH Armed Forces demining capacities operated in 18 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, of which 13 were in the Federation of BiH and five in Republika Srpska.

In addition to the structures of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the demining process in 2024 was also supported by the German, American, Austrian, and other embassies in BiH.



In addition, the European Commission in BiH made a significant contribution to equipping and enhancing demining capacities. Through EU funds, they procured vehicles for transporting deminers, ambulances, demining machines, GPS devices, and drones, which has facilitated the complex demining process and given new momentum to the use of modern demining methods and procedures.

The highest authorities from the BiH Ministry of Defence, BiH Armed Forces, BiH Parliament, Demining Commission, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and military-diplomatic representatives accredited in BiH attended today's event.

The Commander of the Operational Command of the BiH Armed Forces emphasized the professionalism and dedication of the deminers, as well as cooperation with the local community.

Cooperation with the governmental and non-governmental sectors and foreign embassies and organizations in BiH supporting the demining process was also highlighted.



The Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the BiH Armed Forces for Resources, Major General Mirsad Ahmić, emphasized the importance of the demining process, as well as cooperation with the local community and governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Expectations for the demining process in 2025 are high. With all capacities and equipment for implementing the anti-mine action plan for 2025, the BiH Armed Forces plan to clear 1,616,683 m2 with 34 manual teams, four explosive detection dog teams, and four mechanical land preparation teams.

The planned operations of the BiH Armed Forces demining capacities will cover 35 demining projects, with 23 projects in the Federation of BiH and 12 in Republika Srpska. The demining process will take place in 23 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to demining methods, 1,616,683 m2 are planned to be cleared using the technical survey method. The plan for 2025 envisages returning a total of 25,240,446 m2 to the end-users.