Land mine contamination in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Landmine warning sign in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Land mine contamination in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a serious after effect of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina which raged from 1992 until 1995. All combatants laid land mines during the war and as a result Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the most severe land mine problems in the world.

Land mine situation

Landmine situation in BiH as of September 2008

File:Anti personnel mines in Brkozici Bosnia-Herzegovina.JPG

Anti personnel land mines found in village of Brzokići

Demining

Bosnia and Herzegovina's contamination with land mines stems exclusively from the 1992-1995 war in the country. By 1996, some two million land mines and unexploded munitions littered Bosnia. By the end of 2008 some 220,000 land mines and unexploded munitions remained scattered in 13,077 locations. A total of 1,755 km² (3,4% of the country's territory) is mined.

Land mine clearing is done by various government agencies and NGO's as well as some NATO military units. Bosnia and Herzegovina's strategic vision is to clear all land mines by the year 2019.

Land mine casualties

From 1992 through 2008 5,005 people were killed or injured by land mines or unexploded munitions. War time casualties stood at 3,339 killed and injured. Peacetime casualties, from 1996 through 2008 number 1,666 of which 486 persons were fatalities.

Land mine casualties in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1996-2009
Year	Killed	Injured	Total
1996	110	552	662
1997	88	202	290
1998	60	80	149
1999	38	57	95
2000	35	65	100
2001	32	55	87
2002	26	46	72
2003	23	31	54
2004	16	27	43
2005	10	9	19
2006	18	17	35
2007	8	22	30
2008	19	20	39
2009	9	19	28
2010	6	8	14
Totals	498	1,210	1,717

External links

• Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre(Bosnian)(English)