Half a million people in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are threatened by mines, announced the BiH Mine Action Center(BHMAC) on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, April 4th.
The suspicious area in BiH includes 838.29 square kilometers or 1.63 percent of the total area of BiH. It is estimated that there are 170,657 mines and explosive devices left in BiH.
Given that it is spring, the Center warned that there is still danger in the form of residual mines and explosives in the area where war operations were once conducted.
“We appeal to the population to strictly adhere to the mine warning signs and to avoid unknown areas,” the announcement states.
In BiH, 1,782 people have been injured by mines and explosive devices so far, of which 625 have lost their lives.
BHMAC notes that 28 years after the end of the war, there are still mine accidents in which citizens are killed, last year one person was killed in the area of the city of Doboj when he entered a mine-marked area during the collection of secondary raw materials.
In 2023, that area was reduced by 31.99 square kilometers, and 814 mines, 484 unexploded ordnance and 194 pieces of cluster munitions were found and destroyed.
According to the newly approved deadline, it is planned that BiH will be cleared of mines by 2027, but the dynamics so far indicate that the said deadline will be extended.
Enis Horozovic, Acting Director of BHMAC, says that only good political will and effective coordination can lead to the finding of adequate solutions and the final elimination of residual mines and explosives.
This year’s April 4th celebrations include the start of the “Are you aware” campaign, which is being implemented by BHMACand the non-governmental organization MAG, with the aim of distributing messages and materials through social networks that warn of mine danger and thus prevent mine accidents.
In cooperation with the Ministries of Education of the Republika Srpska (RS) and the Federation of BiH (FBiH) and the competent pedagogical institutes, this year the education of school children aged from fifth to ninth grade continues in the mine warning class.
