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SARAJEVO, April 4 (FENA) - The Mine Action Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Commission for Demining in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Municipality of East Ilidža, marked the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action in Vojkovići.
Almost three decades after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mines and explosive devices still pose a life threat to the population, and it is estimated that almost 900 square kilometres of land are still infested with mines.
Saša Obradović, Director of the Mine Action Center in BiH, explained that there are still many suspicious areas in BiH that have yet to go through the demining process.
"This is the day when we should remember all the deminers who gave their lives so that this country would be demined and all the victims of mines and explosive devices in Bosnia and Herzegovina. More than 3,300 square kilometers in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been demined and returned to the population for use, but we still have a lot of work to do, more precisely 830 square kilometers of suspicious area," explained Obradović.
He points out that Bosnia and Herzegovina must take over the financing of the demining process, because international donors are turning to other areas and hotspots, such as Syria and Ukraine.
"I appeal to all levels of government to actively get involved and help demining processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are working to prevent the suffering of the population, because the danger of mines is still present," he added.
According to the Mine Action Center (BHMAC) and the Civil Protection Administration of the FBiH, in the immediate post-war period there were more than 4,200 kilometres of mine infested areas, which is as much as 8.9 percent of the country's territory.
Most of that area has been cleared of mines, however, around 870 square kilometres or 1.7% of the country's territory is still considered unsafe.
BH MAC released this data on Tuesday on the occasion of International Mine Action Day, which is marked on April 4.
About two-thirds of the identified minefields in BiH are located in the territory of the Federation of BiH.
In March this year, mine clearance began along the border between BiH and Croatia in the vicinity of Bihać, and the area is expected to be demined in the second half of 2024.
Since 1995, a total of 633 people have been killed by landmines in BiH, of whom 53 were deminers engaged in mine clearance.
BH MAC director Saša Obradović told the media that the entire country should be cleared of mines by the end of 2027.
The deadline is set in the national mine clearance strategy, but ultimately everything depends on whether there will be enough money for its implementation, which has so far mostly been provided by foreign donors.
(FENA) S. R.
