Contamination and Impact

Croatia is affected by mines and, to a much lesser extent, explosive remnants of war (ERW), a legacy of four years of armed conflict associated with the break-up of the former Yugoslavia during the early 1990s. The Croatian Mine Action Center (CROMAC) reported that on 1 January 2012 an area of 745km² was still contaminated by mines, cluster munition remnants, and other ERW. [1]

Mines

CROMAC estimated the total suspected mined area at 726.5km² as of the start of June 2012, down from 815km² at the end of 2010.[2] Suspected mined areas are still present in 12 out of 21 counties, affecting 102 towns and approximately 750,000 people who represent one-sixth of Croatia’s total population.[3] Croatia estimates suspect hazardous areas (SHAs) contain more than 87,000 mines (64,223 antipersonnel mines and 23,600 antivehicle mines).[4]

Contamination continues to pose an obstacle to social and economic development, particularly in former areas of conflict, affecting large areas of agricultural land and forest.[5] Of the total SHA, forest accounts for 62%, agricultural land 26%, and underbrush and karst (limestone) 12%. The percentage of SHA accounted for by forest increased in 2011, a trend that is expected to continue as more accessible areas are released.[6]

In April 2012, Croatia reported that 76 military facilities (one fewer than in 2011), covering 2.5km², are contaminated with a further 65,507 antipersonnel mines and 1,741 antivehicle mines (the same number of mines as reported in 2010 and 2011). All mined areas around military facilities are the result of the 1991–1995 armed conflict.[7]

Cluster munition remnants

Croatia has areas contaminated by cluster munition remnants left over from the conflict in the 1990s. CROMAC reported an area of 4.7km² affected solely by approximately 20,381 unexploded submunitions (20,052 KB-1 and 329 MK-1 submunitions). It said this contamination affected 20 towns and municipalities across seven counties but most (70%) is located in two counties, Zadarska (50%) and Licko-senjska (20%).[8] Another 2.6km² is contaminated with cluster munitions remnants mixed with other unexploded ordnance (UXO). All these are civilian areas and CROMAC is responsible for their clearance.[9] However, Croatia has also reported that Zadar air base is affected by cluster munitions remnants as well as landmines.[10] The extent of this additional contamination has not been reported.

Other explosive remnants of war

Croatia had an estimated 7.3km² contaminated with UXO at the end of 2011, marked with 389 UXO hazard signs and located mostly around military storage facilities. The affected area is 0.4km² more than at the start of the year following clearance of 0.6km² and identification of 1km² of new suspected areas.[11] The public still occasionally reports finding items of abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO).[12]

On 13 September 2011, a fire at the military storage site Pađane (near Knin) triggered several explosions which destroyed a wide range of ordnance, including part of Croatia’s cluster munitions stocks. There were no casualties. Members of the Support Command assisted by the armed forces and army demining personnel, as well as the Engineering Regiment unit, are working on clearing a 5km radius round the site. Although this is a civilian area, military personnel are responsible for clearance activities. By April 2012, Croatia reported that the armed forces demining units had reduced the contaminated area to within a 2km radius. The Engineering Regiment’s demining battalion is responsible for clearance of all military facilities in Croatia.[13]

Mine Action Program

Key institutions and operators

 

CROMAC was established on 19 February 1998 as the umbrella organization for mine action, responsible directly to the Croatian government for coordinating mine action.[14] The CROMAC Council consists of a president, appointed by the prime minister, and 10 members, appointed from the concerned ministries. The Council meets at least every three months.[15]

In April 2012, the government created the Office for Demining to oversee mine action and in May 2012 appointed Dijana Pleština to be Director of the Office, which will report to the prime minister. The Office is intended to function as a focal point for mine action, strengthening coordination among stakeholders and funding agencies.[16]

The Law on Humanitarian Demining was adopted in 2005 and entered into force on 5 January 2006.[17] A 2007 amendment to the law elaborated on responsibilities and human resource requirements, and a second amendment in 2008 clarified responsibilities for quality control.[18] According to the law, the Croatian army is responsible for clearance of all military areas.[19]

Croatia conducts mine action in accordance with a 10-year National Strategy for 2009–2019, prepared as part of Croatia’s request for an extension of its Article 5 deadline, as well as with action plans prepared by CROMAC. The three-year plan for 2009–2011, which was approved by the government in July 2009, aimed to reduce the SHA by 219.5km² through demining and general survey.[20] In fact, during that period Croatia reduced the area by 202.9km², equivalent to 92% of what was planned. CROMAC attributes the shortfall to cuts in funding.[21]

The three-year plan was expected to cost about HRK1 billion (about US$182 million at 2010 exchange rates) and to be financed by the state budget, World Bank loans, public companies, and private donations.[22] State funding achieved targeted levels and funding by public companies has increased, but funding by international donors has fallen continuously.[23]

CROMAC has drafted a new three-year plan for 2012–2014 but as of June 2012 it was awaiting approval by CROMAC’s Council before it could be submitted to the government for final approval.[24]

CROMAC makes weekly updates of mine and explosive remnants of war situation maps, including data on the location of unexploded submunitions, and these maps are available to the public on CROMAC’s website. The maps include information ranging from the location of SHAs to the position of mine warning signs.[25]

Land Release

Croatia released a total of 70.35km² in 2011 through clearance and general survey, only 2% less than the target set by the annual plan. This included 27.66km² released by clearance and 42.69km² of SHAs that were canceled after the general survey found no evidence of contamination.[26] CROMAC had planned to release a total of 25.27km² through manual clearance and about 46.6km² through general survey.[27]

In 2011, Croatia reported it is preparing a joint partnership agreement with Hungary for a €3.5 million ($5 million) project to demine their common border. Croatia has identified contamination of 7.9km² on the border and expected to demine approximately 1.5km² of this under the agreement. It planned to complete clearance of the entire border within three years.[28] In March 2012, CROMAC reported the project had started and would clear an area 1km inside the border by 2013.[29]

The cost of clearance in 2011 averaged €1 per m², without value added tax (VAT). VAT is usually paid on domestic funding but not on international donations. However, the cost of release by technical survey averaged HRK1 (€0.13).[30]

Five-year summary of mine clearance[31]

Survey in 2011

CROMAC survey teams conduct general survey to update data on hazards and to define tasks for clearance. In 2011, survey teams canceled 42.69km² of suspected mined areas.[32] They also canceled 359,648m² suspected to be contaminated by submunitions in Bjelovar-Bilogora county.[33] CROMAC said they continue to use aerial survey to accelerate area reduction in mountainous areas.[34]

Consolidated reporting of survey in 2011[35]

Mine clearance in 2011

Clearance operations in 2011 resulted in the release of a total of 27.66km², 9.4% more than planned for 2011, but less than in 2009 and 2010.[36] Clearance resulted in the destruction of 1,995 antipersonnel mines, 2,421 antivehicle mines, and 10,479 items of UXO (including 99 submunitions).[37]

Most of the area demined in 2011 (57%) was agricultural land which local and regional governments have identified as their priority in order to boost agricultural production. Forest accounted for 38% and underbrush and karst for 5%. Of the total contracted demining operations in 2011, 32% refers to the priorities related to safety, 65.7% related to socio-economic development, and 2.3% on environmental priorities.[38]

In 2011, 34 commercial companies with the total capacities of 636 deminers, 54 demining machines, and 20 mine detection dogs conducted demining operations.[39] Seven of these companies accounted for more than half (51%) of the area cleared, led by Mungos razminiranje Sisak, which accounted for 11.95%, followed by DOK-ING with 10.54%.[40]

Mine clearance in 2011[41]

Compliance with Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty (and in accordance with the 10-year extension request granted in 2008), Croatia is required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 March 2019.

Croatia cleared and otherwise released or cancelled a total of 410km² of SHA between 1998, when CROMAC was set up, and the end of 2011. However, it has consistently failed to achieve the targets set out in its Article 5 deadline Extension Request in the four years since it was approved. In 2011, Croatia released 70.35km² compared with 119km² projected in the extension request. The gap between projected and actual land release has widened significantly in the last two years, leaving a 28% shortfall over the four years since the extension came into effect. As a result, Croatia still had 738.2km² to release at the start of 2012 compared with the 652km² projected in the extension request.[42]

Croatia’s Article 5 Extension: targets and achievements[43]

Croatia’s National Mine Action Plan (NMAP) sets targets that differ from those in the extension request, providing for slightly lower rates of clearance than those in the extension request up to 2012 and higher rates of clearance in subsequent years.[44] However, Croatia says meeting the targets of both the extension request and the NMAP has been frustrated by cuts in funding as a result of the financial crisis. These were expected to have resulted in even less funding for mine action in 2011 than the previous year, forcing CROMAC to review its operations and methodology and place greater emphasis on land release by non-technical and technical survey. [45]

Croatia has faced a fourfold drop in international donations from €9.4 million in 2005 to €2.6 million in 2011. Croatia concludes that donors think it will get new funding opportunities when it becomes a European Union (EU) member in 2013 and have focused their funds on other countries. Croatia is currently trying to obtain financing from EU accession funds.[46] By these measures and other fundraising initiatives, Croatia said it still hopes it would be able to achieve its extension request targets. [47]

Clearance of cluster munition contaminated areas in 2011

During 2011, Croatia reported clearance of 576,837m² of cluster-munition-contaminated area in four counties, finding and destroying total of 144 unexploded submunitions in addition to 99 unexploded submunitions found and destroyed during mine clearance tasks.[48] However, in its Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 transparency report, Croatia reported 194 cluster munition remnants cleared on area of 459,695m² (187 KB-1 and seven MK-1).[49]

Cluster munition clearance in 2011[50]

Compliance with Article 4 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions

Under Article 4 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Croatia is required to destroy all cluster munition remnants as soon as possible, but not later than 1 August 2020.

Croatia has reported that, as of April 2012 it has 4.7km² contaminated solely by 5,505 unexploded submunitions. In addition, there are 2.6km² of areas contaminated by cluster munitions and other items of UXO.[51] Since the entry into force of the Convention, Croatia has destroyed 1,784 unexploded submunitions in clearance of 1.2km².

Battle area clearance and explosive ordnance disposal in 2011

CROMAC has not reported any battle area clearance (BAC). The Ministry of Interior remains responsible for clearing all explosive remnants of war (ERW) outside SHAs and police in every county have an EOD unit that clears any ERW reported.[52] The Croatian Police department is continuing its “Fewer arms, fewer tragedies” program in partnership with UNDP, educating and encouraging the public to turn in weapons and ordnance left over from the Homeland War. The police department also reacts to telephone calls from the public.[53]

In 2011, the police department collected 376 antipersonnel mines, 396 antivehicle mines, 1,228 hand-grenades, 618kg of different explosives, large amounts of various explosive materials (detonator capsules, fuses, tracer ordnance), and large quantities of small arms and pieces of munitions up to 14.5mm caliber. Police also recovered large numbers of improvised explosive devices.[54] Weapons and ordnance collected by police are destroyed at military facilities.[55]

Quality management

Croatia does not have national mine action standards, but adopted Rules and Regulations on Methods of Demining to guide demining.[56] CROMAC’s standing operating procedures (SOPs) are said to be in line with the International Mine Action Standards and cover survey and marking of mined areas and/or buildings, project planning, assessing the eligibility of demining operators, quality assurance (QA), and quality control (QC). In 2009, CROMAC updated its SOPs for area reduction of suspected mined areas and for marking suspected UXO contamination.[57]

CROMAC is responsible for quality management and in 2011 had 10 QA officers and 25 QC monitors. During 2011, QA staff conducted 778 checks on demining operations and 4,329 control samples on the area of 473,000m², representing 1.7% of the total area cleared.[58]

Safety of demining personnel

Three demining incidents in 2011 resulted in one deminer killed and three injured. The first incident, in May 2011, resulted in minor injuries from a PROM-1 mine. The second incident, in September 2011, occurred when a remote control machine activated a TMM-1 antivehicle mine, causing severe injuries to the driver who was standing too close to the machine. The third incident, on a DOK-ING clearance task, was caused by a PROM-1 mine and resulted in one person killed and another slightly injured.[59]

Between 1998 and the end of 2011, a total of 66 deminers were involved in mine incidents, of whom 26 were killed and 40 injured, 30 of them severely.[60]

Other risk reduction measures

By the end of 2011, mined areas were marked with a total of 15,861 mine danger signs; areas contaminated solely by UXO were marked with an additional 380 warning signs in order to create a clear boundary between safe and mine-suspected areas.[61] Markers were checked in the course of the general survey and demining operations, and additional markers were installed if necessary. The locations of mine danger signs are one of the basic elements of the Mine Information System (MIS) shown on maps issued to local authorities, to the police administration and on request to members of the public.[62]

Risk Education

CROMAC coordinated a number of activities related to mine/ERW risk education (RE) activities in 2010.[63] The Association of Croatian Civil Victims of War, the Croatian Red Cross, the Croatian Mine Action Centre (CROMAC), and the Ministry of Interior organized four panels named “'Children in Mine Environment'” in elementary schools all over the country. CROMAC organized 24 additional lectures with the same instructors. Employees of CROMAC participated throughout the year in a Radio Zagreb broadcast program—Cottage—presenting the most current content and information related to mine action. CROMAC also participated in 17 humanitarian actions in 15 cities providing information on the mine situation in Croatia, the work of deminers, and methods of detecting mines and UXO.[64]

CROMAC issued 448 maps showing mine-suspected areas in 2011 and has developed a web application, MIS portal, available to all internet users for checking the locations of mine-suspected areas. The portal attracted tens of thousands of visitors in 2011, mostly from abroad.[65]

The Croatian Red Cross has continued RE in collaboration with 14 county prefects and 49 local Red Cross branches, all located in the vicinity of mined areas. Daska Theatre played 10 performances of “No, no MI-NE” in the counties in which there are mined areas. Starting in 2010, there were 61 performances in total that were the completion of a project funded by the United States through the International Trust Fund (ITF).[66]