Mines threaten Bosnia all over again

The 1992-1996 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina left the country contaminated with over two millions of mines and UXOs.  Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is ranked among the world's most dangerous countries in terms of landmines, according to the Bosnian Mine Action Centre (BHMAC). The situation presents a lingering problem that continues to hinder safety and economic development.  Since the end of the war, there have been nearly 600 mine-related deaths and 1,700 mine-related injuries in BIH. Of those, 94 were those working on mine removal, but the majority of victims have been civilians, primarily farmers and refugees returning to rural areas some of them also children.

Mine awareness leaflet published by BiH Mine Action Centre

Extensive landslides and the worst flooding ever recorded in BiH, in May 2014, additionally agrevate the difficult humanitarian crisis caused by flooding and landslides. The latest info is that 70% of overall mine suspected areas have been impacted with floods/landmines. According to the lastest info from the BiH Mine Action Centre, the critically affected are landslides, mudslides, riverbanks and areas affected with water over 1 meter high. Mine action signs have been gone so there is no proper signalization of previously marked minefields. In many areas schools are still closed, parents are preoccupied with rehabilitation of their premises so the fear is that children will be left alone wondering the areas that were recently affected by floods. All efforts have to be made to increase the awareness among children and families on the dangers of mines and UXOs immediately. An official from the BiH Mine Action Centre stated: "Some landmines are made of plastic and they float in the water like plastic plates. Others are heavier, weighting 1-3 kg, but even those are easy to be picked up by such water flow as the one affecting the flooded areas."

Landscape t in Nemila, Zenica-Doboj Canton after the floods.

There is a high overlap of flooded areas with minefields from the 1992-1995 war. This is a growing concern for the safety of children and their families in the following period. While the mine action teams are out in the affected areas, the awareness raising among children and families is crucial. The aid that is to be distributed by Save the Children will include the awareness raising information and the work with children in child friendly spaces will also focus on this important aspect of child’s safety.