53 DEMINERS KILLED, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA HAS UNTIL 2027 TO CLEAR REMAINING MINES, FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE A PROBLEM

(Patria) - The Mine Action Centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the occasion of April 4th, the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, drew attention to the fact that BiH is still one of the most mine-affected countries in Europe and the world, with over 500,000 citizens at risk.

After the war, 1781 people were injured, of which 624 fatally. Of this number, 134 were deminers (53 fatally).

During 2022 and 2023, two people died in the areas of Lukavac and Doboj while collecting firewood and secondary raw materials in mine-marked areas. The demining process is proceeding at a slow pace because the planned and promised funds for these purposes have not been allocated from all levels of government. Only good political will and effective coordination can lead to finding adequate solutions and the final elimination of remaining explosive remnants of war.

The size of the suspicious hazardous area for mines in Bosnia and Herzegovina is about 860 km2, or 1.69% of the total area of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina has received an extension of the deadline for the removal of all remaining explosive remnants of war according to the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, and the new deadline stipulates that our country will be cleared by 2027.

Saša Obradović, Director of the Mine Action Centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized that in 2022, the suspicious hazardous area was reduced by 52.74 km2, where 3,529 mines and 1,833 explosive devices remaining from the war were found.

"So far, 3340 km2 has been cleared and returned to use in our country, where over 80,000 mines and 64,000 explosive remnants of war have been destroyed. On the MSP Vojkovići project, Istočna Ilidža, about 50 explosive remnants of war have been found so far, and its demining will enable safe access to the quarry, the state prison, and plots of local residents, which are not used due to the mine threat.

The project is located on the very border between the Federation and Republika Srpska, and it covers all known mine-suspected areas in the municipality of Istočna Ilidža, so with the implementation of this project, the municipality of Istočna Ilidža will be free from the mine threat.

Finally, we want to appeal once again to the population to strictly adhere to mine signs, and it is extremely important to avoid unknown areas and stay in safe areas," stated Obradović.  

A mobile application with mine-suspected areas in our country is available to everyone and can be downloaded from the Google and Apple stores, and the link can be found at www.bhmac.org.