History

Years of conflict have left Bosnia Herzegovina one of the most heavily mined countries in Europe. During the Bosnian war (1992-1995), combatants used landmines to protect frontlines, troops, retreat routes, roads, power lines, telecommunication stations, and water sources. They were also used for ethnic cleansing. After the war, mines were strewn along roads and scattered around homes to prevent refugees from returning.

• In March 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina declared its independence from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
• Soon thereafter, a power struggle erupted between Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks), Bosnian Serbs and Bosnian Croats.
• In 1994, the Bosniaks joined the Bosnian Croats and formed the Bosnia Herzegovina Federation against the Bosnian Serbs.
• The main dividing line between the two factions was called the Inter Entity Boundary Line and it is on the Zone of Separation. The majority of landmines can be found along this line.

• Mine production was mainly concentrated in Gorazde, Vogasca and Bogojno.
• According to the Bosnian Mine Action Center, there are approximately 30,000 minefields.
• In May 2003, it was estimated that 2,089.9 square kilometers (about 4% of Bosnia’s total area) contained landmines.

Mine Action

• On March 1, 1999, in acknowledgment of the crisis, Bosnia and Herzegovina became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty.
• Destruction of antipersonnel mine stockpiles (460,727 in total) was completed by November 1999.
• On April 2003, the Council of Ministers approved a demining strategy that aims to rid the country of mines by 2010.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it will not participate in any military action with any faction that employs the use of landmines and prohibits other countries from using Bosnia Herzegovina as a site to store landmines.
• There is an ongoing coordinated effort between the international Stabilization Forces (SFOR), the Entity Armies, and civil protection teams, called Operation Harvest, to collect mines.   Since 1998, 28,000 mines were collected.
• Mine Risk Education programs have also been implemented to make people aware of the crisis and how to avoid mines.

Bosnia Herzegovina has the most funding for landmine clearance in Europe. In 2002, contributions totaled $15.8 million. Although this is a substantial figure, it is not enough to meet the goal of a mine safe country by 2010. Contributions from governments must be combined with funds donated by civil society and international organizations to ensure that this goal can be reached.

Survivor Assistance

The International Committee for the Red Cross recorded that in Bosnia Herzegovina between 1992 and 2001, there were 4,500 landmine casualties involving amputations, eye injuries, fragmentation wounds and outright death.

People continue to live in fear with every step they take. A widespread flood in June 2001 contaminated previously safe land, further enhancing the precariousness of the situation and impeding the development process. Development cannot take place without security, peace of mind, and freedom of movement. For example, the quality of solid waste service has deteriorated and has become a major obstacle to development because landmines hinder access to landfills. With the threat of even just one mine in any given location, it is dangerous to cultivate land, to build new homes, and to encourage refugees to come back. With these reminders of violence and destruction, it is hard for Bosnians move towards a lasting reconciliation.