Mines still threaten citizens across BiH, Croatia ready to help in demining process

(Patria) - According to the latest available data, the mine-suspected area in Bosnia and Herzegovina amounts to approximately 774 square kilometers, which represents about 1.5 percent of the country's total territory.

The scale of this problem is further confirmed by humanitarian indicators. From the end of the war to date, a total of 1,782 mine victims have been recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, of which 625 people have died. At the same time, it is estimated that about 93,000 residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 110 municipalities continue to live in close proximity to mine suspected areas and are directly exposed to risk.

The demining process is further complicated by limited domestic financial resources and the gradual reduction of international donor support, partly due to changed global security circumstances.

In this context, the Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, adopted a decision in 2024 to approve multi-year capital investment for the period from 2025 to 2027 in the amount of two million convertible marks. This is the first time that significant funds for demining projects have been secured from the state budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Also, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH has initiated the procedure for adopting a new law on anti-mine action, which envisages that at least 0.2 percent of the annual budget of the institutions of BiH, the Federation of BiH entity, and the Republika Srpska entity be allocated for demining.

The demining process was precisely the topic of a meeting between the Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubravka Bošnjak, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Davor Božinović, where the possibility of support from the Republic of Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the demining process was discussed.

While mine-suspected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, three decades after the end of the war, represent a security, humanitarian, and development challenge for our country, the Republic of Croatia successfully completed its demining process in February this year in accordance with the Ottawa Convention, thus becoming a mine-free country.

Minister Bošnjak emphasized that the issue of demining is primarily a matter of security, but also a prerequisite for the development of local communities, agriculture, tourism, and the economy as a whole.

“Croatia went through a long and demanding demining process, and precisely because of that, the experiences of the Republic of Croatia, its expert capacities, and institutional models can be extremely valuable for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Every removed meter of mine danger means more security and more space for development,” said Minister Bošnjak.

Minister Božinović emphasized that Croatia understands the gravity of the problem facing BiH and expressed readiness to provide expert and technical assistance.

“The Republic of Croatia is ready to share its knowledge, experience, and capacities. Demining is a moral obligation towards the victims and their families,” said Minister Božinović.

He recalled that the Republic of Croatia, after almost three decades of a demanding process, successfully completed demining in accordance with the Ottawa Convention, removing nearly 107,000 explosive devices and 470,000 unexploded ordnance.

Croatia's support in demining Bosnia and Herzegovina would include the exchange of experience and expertise, including the possibility of engaging Croatian demining capacities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, technical assistance, institutional cooperation, and joint projects. Such cooperation could significantly contribute to accelerating the process of removing mine danger, strengthening the security of the population, and creating prerequisites for the faster development of areas located in mine-suspected areas.

“Our key goal remains a mine-free Bosnia and Herzegovina. Demining is one of the Ministry's priorities, and we will continue to invest maximum efforts to accelerate the removal of the last mine danger in our country. Demining in BiH is a complex and financially very demanding process that depends on a large number of participants and which Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot currently realize without donor assistance,” said Minister Bošnjak.