Half a million people endangered by mines in BiH

(Patria) - On the occasion of April 4, the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) once again draws attention to the fact that in our country, 500,000 people are still endangered due to the existence of mine risk.

Unfortunately, 28 years after the end of the war, mine accidents still occur, claiming the lives of our fellow citizens.

In 2023, one person lost their life while entering a mine-marked area in the municipality of Doboj, while collecting secondary raw materials.

So far, 1,782 people have been injured in Bosnia and Herzegovina, of which 625 have been fatal.

The size of the suspected hazardous area in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 838.29 km2, or 1.63% of the total area of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In 2023, the suspected hazardous area was reduced by 31.99 km2, while 814 mines, 484 unexploded ordnance, and 194 cluster munitions were found and destroyed.

The estimated remaining number of expected mines in BiH is 170,657.

According to the newly approved deadline in accordance with the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, it is foreseen that our country will be cleared of mines by 2027.

However, based on the monitoring of the current dynamics of implementation and activities for the revision of the current Mine Action Strategy, it is quite certain that this deadline will be extended.

Acting Director of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre, Enis Horozović, emphasizes that only good political will and effective coordination can lead to finding adequate solutions and the final elimination of residual explosive ordnance.

This year's activities marking April 4 include the launch of the campaign "Are You Aware?", implemented by the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre and the non-governmental organization MAG, with the aim of distributing messages and materials via social networks that warn of the mine danger and thus prevent mine accidents.

In cooperation with the entity ministries of education and science, and competent pedagogical institutes, this year education of schoolchildren aged 5 to 9 years of primary schools continues through the implementation of a "mine danger awareness lesson", through which children will be familiarized with life-saving messages.

As spring has largely arrived, BHMAC reminds that the danger in the form of residual explosive ordnance still lurks in areas where military operations were once conducted.

They appeal to the public to strictly adhere to the posted mine signs and avoid unknown areas.

A mobile application with mine-suspected areas in our country is currently available on the iOS platform at https://apps.apple.com/in/app/mine-suspected-areas/id1546066712, while it will soon be available for Android system users.