Bosnia and Herzegovina, more than three decades after the end of the war, has about 756 square kilometers of mine-suspected area, while the number of people trained in mine countermeasures has almost halved compared to the period before the coronavirus pandemic. The new law on mine action, which is still in the process of harmonization, should for the first time systemically connect stable domestic financing of demining with the regulation of the work, social and pension status of people who perform one of the most risky jobs in the country.
According to data from the Center for Demining in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHMAC), at the beginning of the year there were about 774 square kilometers under mines. About 18 square kilometers have been cleared so far, so the current estimate is about 756 square kilometers, with a note that this information changes daily.
New plan for the period 2027-2032. it envisages returning about 55 square kilometers a year to safe use. However, BHMAC estimates that, with stable financing that would be made possible by the new law, the annual capacity could increase to 75 to 80 square kilometers.
Current demining organizations can realize about 50 to 55 square kilometers per year, and for a significant increase in capacity, it would take at least one to two years, in order to engage additional deminers and acquire the necessary equipment.
In the most favorable scenario, with the adoption of the new law, BHMAC estimates that BiH could complete the process by the end of 2036. If the law is not passed, and donor funds continue to disappear, the completion of the process could be postponed until approximately 2045.
