Key developments
since March 1999: BiH’s Mine Action Center (BHMAC) reported
approximately 3.7 million square meters of land were cleared of mines in 1999
and 573,229 square meters surveyed. Mine casualties have decreased
significantly, from a high of sixty-nine mine victims per month in 1994, to an
average of eight per month in 1999; there were ninety-four new victims in 1999,
or 37% fewer than in 1998. BiH completed destruction of its antipersonnel mine
stockpile in November 1999, destroying 460,727 mines.
Mine Ban Policy
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) signed the Mine Ban
Treaty (MBT) on 3 December 1997 and ratified on 8 September 1998. It appears
that two laws are being developed simultaneously in the country, one on national
implementing legislation and a law on demining.
On 1 November 1999, a “pre-draft” of proposed legislation, Law
on Application of Convention on Ban on Usage, Build-up, Production and Traffic
of Antipersonnel-Pressure Mines and Their Destruction, was sent from the
Federation Ministry of Defense through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the
Council of Ministers. It addresses national implementation measures as required
under Article 9 of the MBT.
The government is also drafting legislation that “will address all
issues of demining including the legal requirements committed to under the terms
of the Ottawa
Convention.”[1] This law
on demining was due to be completed by July 2000. Details of its content were
not known at the time of writing, but it is believed that it will legalize the
Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center (BHMAC), with its standard operating
procedures or technical guidelines becoming law.
The government attended the First Meeting of States Parties (FMSP) of the MBT
in May 1999, where it announced the preparations for implementation legislation
and the destruction of its stocks of antipersonnel mines, and possibly its
antitank mines.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has participated in the intersessional work of the
MBT, attending at least one of the meetings of each of the five Standing
Committees of Experts (SCE) in Geneva. BiH’s mine awareness coordinator
gave presentations to SCE meetings on mine awareness in September 1999 and March
2000. At the meetings, the government noted that, in addition to the MBT, the
Dayton Agreement entails extensive responsibilities for the country in
humanitarian demining and stockpile destruction, and that the support of the
international donor community is needed to carry out these
tasks.[2] However, BiH expects
to achieve full compliance with the provisions of the MBT by the year
2010.[3]
Bosnia and Herzegovina representatives also participated in the regional
conferences on landmines in Zagreb in June 1999 and Ljubljana in June 2000. It
voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 54/54 B calling for full
implementation of the MBT in December 1999, as it had with previous pro-ban UNGA
resolutions.
Its initial Article 7 report to the UN on implementation measures was due by
27 August 1999. The government was aware of this reporting requirement but
delayed submission so that it could report on the completion of its stockpile
destruction program.[4] The
Demining Commission prepared one report intended to meet both the August 1999
reporting requirement and the annual update required by 30 April 2000, which it
submitted on 1 February
2000.[5]
There is no formal anti-landmine campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but
there are many nongovernmental organizations working in the country that are
also members of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
The Stabilization Pact for South Eastern Europe (Cologne, 10 June 1999)
resulted in four “Tables” to work on issues promoting stability and
economic reconstruction in the region. Working Table III focuses on Security
Issues; landmines are addressed within the Sub-Table on Defense and Security
Affairs. The Sarajevo Summit Declaration states, “We will also promote
civilian control of the armed forces and effective measures against organized
crime, terrorism and problems caused by landmines and small arms
proliferation.”[6]
Bosnia and Herzegovina signed the Convention on Conventional Weapons on 1
September 1993, but has not yet ratified Amended Protocol II
(1996).[7]
Production, Transfer and Use
About half the total defense production of the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) was located in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, and the SFRY was a prolific producer of AP mines, possessing an
estimated six million mines of all types at the start of the conflict when
Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence in 1992. Former SFRY production
capacity of AP mines was reported to have been located in Gorazde, Vogosca and
Bugojno.[8] No further
reference to the Vogosca facility has been noted. There is no indication that
Bosnia and Herzegovina has produced, exported or used AP mines since signing the
MBT in December 1997, although occasional use by individuals cannot be ruled
out.
Regarding the conversion of production facilities, Bosnia and Herzegovina
reported in its Article 7 report in February 2000 that it “has not
completed the planning process appertaining to the conversion or decommissioning
of APM production facilities. This work is intended to be undertaken during
this year (2000) and will be reported on as and when the plans are
completed.”[9]
In April 2000, the Federation Ministry of Defense provided more specific
information to the Landmine Monitor: “In regard to conversion of
production capacities, FBiH has provided information in its report to the State
of BiH that landmine factory ‘SLAVKO RODIC’ Bugojno has completed
the process of
conversion.”[10] It noted
that the factory’s landmine stocks had been destroyed, as well as its
parts and fuzes. “Tools” used for production of landmines were also
destroyed. These activities were “done in the presence of members of
international military forces (SFOR) and some embassies in BiH. One problem
that remains unsolved and which FBiH will try to solve is employment of certain
number of persons left without job due to conversion of the factory.... In the
process of conversion this factory has developed civil programs that need
international financial
assistance....”[11]
Finally it stated that the Ministry of Defense “would also like to
underline that production of improvised landmines, so called
‘GORAZDANKA,’ was underway in small amounts during the war in city
of Gorazde and that this factory never professionally/originally manufactured
landmines.”[12]
From May to November 1999, Rebuild International developed a prospectus for
the conversion of landmine production plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing
on product opportunities in the cities of Gorazde and Bugojno. The prospectus
provides extensive background about these two
facilities.[13]
Stockpile and Destruction
At the London Peace Implementation Conference,
held in December 1996 to monitor implementation of the Dayton Agreement, BiH was
urged to begin plans for destruction of its stockpiles of mines. In the spring
of 1999 the Command Unit of the Stabilization Force (COMSFOR) directed that
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s two “Entities,” the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and the Republika Srpska (RS) should destroy all
of their stocks of AP mines. This was intended to be a confidence-building
measure, but also had the benefit of meeting one of the key commitments of the
MBT.[14] Between March and
November 1999, approximately 400,000 mines were destroyed and on 15 November
1999 the last stocks of AP mines in BiH were destroyed (with the exception of
permitted retentions, as noted
below).[15] The types and
number of AP mines destroyed are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Types and number of AP Mines destroyed by each Entity of Bosnia and
Herzegovina in 1999[16]
Type
Total
Republika Sprska
Federation of BiH
PROM-1
17,438
14,569
2,869
PROM-1P
760
760
-----
PROM-KD
33
-----
33
PMR-1
1,664
-----
1,639 (+25)
PMR-2
890
-----
890
PMR-2A
111,858
99,905
11,953
PMR-S1
2,560
2,560
-----
PMR-S3M
16,224
16,224
-----
PMR-3
6,187
5,980
207
PMR-4
8,840
8,778
62
PMA-1
110,971
103,103
7,868
PMA-2
83,161
59,936
23,225
PMA-2A
135
------
135
PMA-3
89,924
57,106
32,818
PMA-4
1,146
1,146
-----
MRUD
4,025
-----
4,025
PPM Various
70
-----
70
PPM-VM
354
-----
354
PP Mine Improvised
4,487
-----
4,487
TOTAL
460,727
370,067
90,660
The Entity Armies destroyed their stockpiles at different locations with the
assistance of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) and NATO. The method of
destruction was primarily by explosives though some dismantling and recycling
occurred (in the case of PMR-type
mines).[17] There were two
accidents in the RS during the destruction of AP mines, both in September 1999.
One incident resulted in injuries to two RS soldiers; the second resulted in one
RS soldier being fatally wounded and five other individuals injured (two SFOR
soldiers, one SFOR interpreter and two RS
soldiers).[18]
For training purposes permitted by Article 3 of the MBT, BiH retained 2,165
AP mines.[19] Of this total,
the Federation retained 165 AP
mines.[20] These are held by
the Entity Armies.[21]
Table 2. Types and numbers of AP mines retained by the Republika Srpska and
Federation of BiH for purposes permitted by Article 3 of the
MBT[22]
Type of Mine
Total
Republika Srpska
Federation of BiH
PMA 1
120
100
20
PMA 1A
9
---
9
PMA 2
229
200
29
PMA 3
229
200
29
PMR 2A
320
300
20
PMR 3
300
300
---
PROM 1
929
900
29
MRUD
29
---
29
TOTAL
2,165
2,000
165
SFOR continues to have a rigorous inspection regime within the country and
will continue to play a monitoring role in accordance with the Dayton
Agreement.
Mine Action Funding
Mine action funding in Bosnia and Herzegovina is
complex and difficult to summarize comprehensively. A mine action funding
summary is reportedly being undertaken by the Advisor to the Demining Commission
and was due to be completed during the first quarter of
2000.[23] No further
information is available on the status of this activity.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has contributed to mine clearance operations through
the payment of salaries of all Entity Army demining teams, and through tax
exemption status for demining organizations.
The Entity Mine Action Centers, in a report to the Board of Donors in Bosnia
and Herzegovina, reportedly received approximately $4,572,000 during the period
1 January to 30 November
1999.[24]
To date, the World Bank has provided or channeled approximately $18 million
for demining activities in BiH, through the Project Implementation Units (PIU)
of each of the two Entities; these funds were allocated primarily to commercial
demining companies. These PIUs are outside the Entity Mine Action Center (EMAC)
structure, and can be used to channel mine clearance funds from other sources,
as has already been the case with funds from the International Trust
Fund.[25]
The International Trust Fund (ITF), based in Slovenia, continues to play a
major role in mine action funding for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since December
1998, all United States government funding for mine action goes through the ITF.
In 1998 and 1999, the ITF received donations of $12,167,573, which were matched
by the United States, thus making $24,335,146 available for demining and mine
victim assistance in BiH. The amount actually spent in Bosnia and Herzegovina
in 1999 is not known, although ITF reports demining success in these terms: area
of 4,001,319 square meters demined, 1,250 AP mines found and 9,164
UXO.[26] Over 200 mine victims
from Bosnia and Herzegovina were rehabilitated in Slovenia and fifty mine
victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ITF plan for 2000 estimates five million
square meters of land to be cleared and three hundred mine victims to be
rehabilitated.[27]
The Canadian government has pledged C$ 10 million for mine action over five
years, starting in 1998. Through SFOR, it has supported the demining efforts of
the Entity Armies (ambulances, clearance equipment), as well as providing funds
to the UN Development Program (in support of the MACs), Canadian organizations,
and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) involved in mine
action.[28] The United States
donated $110,000-worth of protective footwear (240 pairs) to three local
demining NGOs.
In its Article 7 report, BiH states that as of 1
February 2000 the number of suspect or mined areas was
18,293.[30] As of 9 March 2000,
according to documents provided to Landmine Monitor, the BHMAC had recorded
18,223 minefields in the country, but estimated the probable total number of
minefields in Bosnia and Herzegovina at
30,000.[31] The majority of
minefields are in the Zone of Separation, the total length of which is 1,100
kilometers and up to four kilometers
wide.[32] The BHMAC summary of
minefield records indicates the number and location of minefields shown in Table
3.
Table 3. Location and number of minefields as notified at 9 March
2000[33]
Location
Minefields
Mines Recorded
antipersonnel
antitank
FEDERATION (cantons)
13,557
179,114
35,989
Central Bosnia
2,189
29,434
3,875
Neretva
1,379
17,044
1,319
Posavina
440
4,970
6,612
Sarajevo
1,815
21,235
2,491
Tomislavgrad
758
12,789
11,211
Tuzla-Podrinje
2,929
35,970
7,290
Una-Sana
1,639
24,166
1,266
Upper Drina (Gorazde)
253
10,350
53
Zenica-Doboj
2,155
23,156
1,872
REPUBLIKA SRPSKA
4,666
75,566
14,352
TOTAL
18,223
254,680
50,341
BHMAC’s records and maps of mined areas are on a computer database and
publicly accessible. In late 1999 these records were to be updated; it is
unclear if this is completed or still in process.
On 15 December 1999, the Ministry of Defense stated that “there are
around 740,000 landmines planted in the Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina.”[34]
Minefields in Bosnia and Herzegovina generally remain unmarked. It is believed
there is little or no effect from marking as the signs or markers are often
removed for other uses. The Demining Commission chooses instead to focus on
mine risk education through schools and local
media.[35]
Coordination and Planning of Mine Action
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center is
the focal point for mine action in the
country.[36] Governmental
decrees/decisions established the Entity Mine Action Centers in the Federation
on 14 May 1998 and in the RS on 23 April 1998. As of late 1999, these EMACs no
longer conduct mine clearance operations. They work with surveying, quality
assurance, and monitoring but do not engage in direct demining activities. The
EMACs develop Annual Workplans identifying tasks and priorities to address
throughout the year, which the Entity governments review and approve based on
Entity priorities and agreed national priorities. Using the example set by the
Federation MAC in determining
priorities,[37] the two main
criteria for prioritizing mine action are humanitarian reasons for the return of
refugees and displaced persons, and economic reasons for the extension of
agricultural land and pastures as well as for the renewal, reconstruction and
development projects.[38]
Priority lists and demining project development occur in four phases:
Phase 1: Nomination of priorities (can be made by institutions, donors,
individuals, cantons);
Phase 2: Site-survey activities (general survey to determine if area is a
mine-risk area);
Phase 3: If identified as risk area, proposer defines the category of
risk:
Category 1: locations of regular civilian use, and/or of refugees and
displaced persons return, and/or for infrastructure and economic
renewal/reconstruction;
Category 2: locations of occasional use or in contact zone with category 1
economic resources;
Category 3: peripheral locations;
Phase 4: Demining project development (contains all necessary data for the
work executor).
The Federation MAC has been preparing priorities for
the last two years and developed a list in February 2000, which covers 600
locations.[39] The EMACs are
responsible for certification that areas are clear, but they do not take
responsibility for ensuring cleared land is made available to those entitled to
it. Generally, the municipalities decide how cleared land is
allocated.[40]
Survey and Assessment
A general survey (level one) by teams from the
Entity Mine Action Centers (EMACs) started in May-June 1999. There are a total
of sixteen teams of two men each (one surveyor and one inspector). The
Federation has ten teams and the RS has
six.[41] Bosnia and Herzegovina
feels there is no need for international survey teams, given the country’s
own capacity and the fact that a general survey is
underway;[42] it also believes
the technical survey (level two) capacity exists within the MAC structure.
According to BHMAC statistics, 573,229 square meters were surveyed in 1999 (it
is unclear if this is level 1 or level
2).[43]
Mine Clearance
In March 2000 Mr. Filip Filipovic, Director of
the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center, said that while no one can say
all landmines in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be removed in the next ten years,
within ten years Bosnia and Herzegovina will reduce the risk by 90% for the
population.[44]
All mine clearance operations report progress to the EMACs, which then send
summary information to the BHMAC. In its December 1999 report to the Board of
Donors, the following BHMAC statistics were provided for activities to date in
1999: cleared area: 3,720,000 square meters, houses cleared: 488, schools: 7,
villages: 6, macadam: 68 km, bridges: 17, railway: 6 km, electric powerlines:
48 km, water/waste facilities: 24, churches/mosques: 8, graveyards: 17, total
mines found and destroyed: 2,551, total UXOs found and destroyed:
1,015.[45]
Later statistics for 1999 from BHMAC are: area cleared: 3,608,575 square
meters, area surveyed: 573,229 square meters, area fenced: 500 square meters,
houses cleared: 512, APMs cleared: 2,989, antitank mines cleared: 134, UXO
cleared: 1,314.[46] Of the land
cleared in 1999, about 25% was agricultural land, and approximately 26% was
housing, 12% around electrical power sites, and almost 15% categorized as
“other.” The rest of the areas demined included health and social
facilities; educational facilities; water and waste management facilities;
roads, railways, and bridges; telecommunications; and
utilities.[47]
Mine clearance is carried out by Entity Armies (trained and supervised by
SFOR), by local and international NGOs, by commercial demining companies (local
and international), and by the Civil Protection Organization, which is
responsible primarily for unexploded ordnance (UXO). Until the end of 1999, the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was also involved in
demining.
All demining organizations must be accredited by BHMAC, and accreditation
must be renewed annually. In 1999 there were thirty-eight organizations
accredited to work in Bosnia and Herzegovina (eighteen were listed in the
Landmine Monitor Report 1999). At present, there is a lack of legal
authority to enforce decisions to suspend or cancel accreditation or to stop a
non-accredited organization from working. Investigating legal options or the
development of new laws is one important new area of work for
BHMAC.[48]
Methods for mine detection and clearance include manual demining, use of mine
detecting dogs (there are sixty to seventy trained dogs in the country), and
mechanical ground preparation/clearance. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the first
country in the world requiring accreditation for dogs. In 2000, all dogs will
be assessed by BHMAC and must be accredited before they can
work.[49]
Entity Armies (EA)
There are forty-three nine-man demining teams (nineteen Bosnian, eight Croat,
and sixteen Serb) in the Entity Armies (EA). During 1999, the EAs began using
integrated demining techniques (mechanical ground preparation and dogs) to
facilitate their work. There were no Entity Army deminer casualties during
clearance operations. SFOR has a training and monitoring role in mine
clearance, and each team has an SFOR soldier with them to monitor and supervise
its activities. In 2000, SFOR’s role will be selective monitoring with
its soldiers encouraging the increased independence of the EA teams.
It is the EMACs which identify the areas where Entity Armies are to demine.
In 1998, Entity Armies cleared 100,303 sq.m. of 4,691 AP mines, and in 1999,
they cleared 589,170 sq.m. of 1,178 AP
mines.[50]
NGOs
The main international NGOs working with mine clearance in Bosnia and
Herzegovina are Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and HELP. Other NGOs include
Tamar Consulting and INTERSOS. There are four local NGOs actively involved in
mine clearance activities. Three of these organizations started in 1999 (Stop
Mines, located in Pale; Pro Vita, located in Mostar, and BH Demining, located in
Sarajevo). The fourth NGO, Akcija Protiv Mina (APM or Action Against Mines),
operated in Una-Sana canton and uses a combination of dogs and manual demining.
It was established in 1997, with UN funding, in a program implemented by
Handicap International (France) and became officially independent in September
1998. Since then, HI has continued as a partner, by providing technical
assistance, management training and assistance in accessing international
funding.
Commercial Demining Companies
There are over twenty commercial demining companies accredited to work in
Bosnia and Herzegovina. These include Amphibia, Decop, Defence Systems Ltd,
Mechem, Oktol, RONCO, Unipak, UXB International, Greenfield, CZ Republike
Srpske, CZ Federacije BiH, TNT Gorazde, Cum Call, AKD Mungos, Detektor, TNT
Mostar, TWJ-deminiranje, GCI, C.F.D., A.B.C. Italy, MAAVARIM Israel, SGS UK Ltd
and Geomines France.[51]
UNHCR
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees discontinued direct involvement with
demining in BiH on 31 December 1999. It had been responsible for six demining
teams and as part of a phase-out operation, five of the teams and all the
equipment were integrated into NPA and
HELP.[52] The four teams
acquired by HELP have yet to receive funding to support their operational
activities. A media report on 5 June 2000 noted that “UNHCR is out of the
de-mining business because of lack of funds” and quoted the head of the
UNHCR program as saying that he had 127 Bosnian staff unpaid since January and a
million dollars worth of equipment lying
idle.[53]
Civil Protection Organizations
In August 1998, the European Economic Community (EEC) awarded HELP a contract
to further develop the capacity of the Civil Protection Organization for UXO
disposal and house clearance capabilities (in support of EEC reconstruction plan
of returning refugees and displaced people). There are fourteen operational
civil protection teams (fifteen people in each team, four with UXO disposal
capability and eleven for house clearance) and two management teams. The
management teams (eight to nine persons) are located in Sarajevo and Lukovica
and are responsible for logistics, financial oversight, and supervision. The
civil protection teams in the RS are located in Banja Luka, Pale, Doboj and
Trebinje. In the Federation they are located in Bihac, Livno, Mostar (2),
Gorazde, Sarajev, Busovaca, Zeche, Tuzla and Orasje.
These teams have had three years’ experience and, at the end of 2000,
HELP plans to hand over main responsibilities to them and remain as a monitoring
body. Civil Protection is outside the MAC authority, but follows accreditation
requirements and reports all completed activities to the
EMACs.[54] For 1999, the Civil
Protection and HELP/UNHCR activity report summary noted that cleared area
totaled 471,066 square
meters.[55]
Research and Development
Bosnia and Herzegovina is testing a number of foreign-made demining products
in the country to help advance mine detection and mine clearance activities.
Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) has been working with Development Technology
Workshop (DTW) on their Tempest T4 and Tempest Mark 3 devices. The T4 is a
vegetation-cutting tool now in use by NPA in Bosnia, and is also widely used in
Cambodia. The Mark 3 is a newer version that was also initially made for
cutting vegetation. NPA and DTW are working together to deploy a slightly
modified version as a soil-cutting tool for ground preparation in April
2000.[56] NPA is also assisting
Pretory, USA, Inc. in testing an IADE-device (flying reconnaissance for
unexploded ordnance and landmines via
helicopter).[57] An
Arizona-based company (Chem Tech) has developed “ELF,” a stand-off
location system which was demonstrated in Croatia in late 1999. A formal
testing program was to be undertaken by Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
beginning in April 2000.
Mine Awareness
The Mine Awareness Working Group (MAWG), which
became the Mine Awareness Coordination Group (MACG) on 2 December 1999, assesses
capabilities of the companies to deal with mine awareness in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The MACG consists of the following: BHMAC, Federation MAC, RS MAC,
UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Federation Ministry of
Education, Science, Culture and Sport, RS Ministry of Education, UN Development
Program (UNDP), the World Bank and SFOR. A Guide to Accreditation for Mine
Awareness Organizations is being prepared, and organizations must be certified
by the MACG in order to carry out mine awareness programs in the country.
UNICEF has continued two main programs for mine awareness, one in the school
system and another through sport (working with both Ministries of Sport, the
former Spirit of Soccer
program).[58] All teachers in
the Federation and RS have received mine awareness training. All primary
schools have mine awareness information included in “special
subjects” lessons. UNICEF plans to consider a workbook for pre-schools in
2000. Secondary schools are considering inclusion of mine awareness in extra
subjects (drama or protection and defense class) for September 2000.
The school program targets children through the school system and
out-of-school activities with a high involvement and support from the Ministries
of Education in both entities. Mine awareness quiz competitions involving
primary school children were organized all over the country, with the aim of
encouraging them to mobilize communities, media and local authorities to work on
the mine problem. The children showed great knowledge, and similar activities
will be organized in the course of 2000. A theater play, based on Little Red
Riding Hood, is being performed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina with 110
performances, fully supported by the Entity Red Cross organizations and
Ministries of Education, for children aged three to ten years. In addition, the
project included production and distribution of audiotapes and picture books.
The ICRC, in close cooperation with both Entity Red Cross organizations
carries out mine awareness activities throughout the country, operating at the
grassroots level through a network of 130 trained community-based mine awareness
instructors and nineteen regional/cantonal coordinators. The program is
gradually being handed over to the Entity Red Cross organizations, and local Red
Cross coordinators at regional/cantonal level are increasing their involvement
in most of the activities implemented in the field (community-based program,
school program, data-gathering, media campaign), with the assistance and support
of ICRC staff.[59] Support is
given to community-based activities such as mine awareness sessions for
high-risk groups (for example, returnees, groups such as hunters, fishermen,
etc.), agricultural workers, refugees as well as local residents and children.
From June to December 1999, over 1,470 presentations were organized for some
36,500 people involving 130 community-based instructors. Printed materials
(posters, leaflets, badges, notebooks, T-shirts, etc.), with specific mine
awareness messages adapted to different target groups are being regularly
disseminated throughout the country.
The ICRC media campaign includes radio and TV spots, talk shows, interviews
and quizzes on the local radio and TV stations all over the country. Prior to
this, a media survey was carried out in order to identify the best way to
approach high-risk populations (farmers, returnees, children etc.). The ICRC
provided the following data on the mine awareness of those injured by mines.
Table 5. ICRC statistics on the ‘Knowledge of Danger’ (percentage)
of those injured by mines[60]
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Yes
16.5
13.5
17
15.5
25.5
33.5
39.5
44
No
83.5
86.5
83
84.5
74.5
66.5
60.5
56
In 1998 and 1999, Akcija Protiv Mina (APM) conducted teacher training in mine
awareness in Una-Sana canton.
The Mines Information Coordination Cell provides mine awareness for all new
arrivals and upon request by specific SFOR units or NGOs. Normally this is a
two-hour brief. The British, Americans and Canadians have their own mine
awareness capacity.
Mine Casualties
Information about landmine casualties is collected
directly from mine-affected communities, the ICRC, the local Red Cross
organizations, and other organizations involved in mine action; from hospitals
and health centers; from local institutions for the war disabled; and from the
police and military. Information pertaining to mine incidents and victims is
stored on the ICRC database and the BHMAC database.
As of March 2000, the ICRC database contained 4,313 mine victims (those
injured or killed by landmines). There has been a progressive decrease in the
number of mine victims: a high of sixty-nine mine victims per month was reached
in 1994, which has decreased to a monthly average of eight in
1999.[61] Due to delays in
reporting, these numbers may vary slightly from original reports and may further
increase for the same reason.
In 1999 there were 94 new mine victims reported, compared to 149 in 1998;
that represents a decrease of 37%.
Table 7. Number of mine victims by location 1992-December
1999[63]
Location of Mine Accidents
Number of Victims
Banja Luka (4 regions)
810
Bijeljina (2 regions)
691
Bosnia-Podrinje
147
Central Bosnia
334
Herceg-Bosnia
23
Hercegovina-Neretvian
98
Pale (2 regions)
335
Posavina
11
Sarajevo canton
297
Trebinje (2 regions)
276
Tuzla canton
318
Una-Sana canton
566
Western Hercegovina
26
Zenica-Doboj canton
384
TOTAL
4,316
Table 8. Age breakdown of mine victims 1 January 1996 to 9 March
2000[64]
Age
Number of Victims
0-5 years
10
6-10 years
42
11-18 years
192
19-25 years
155
26-35 years
227
36-45 years
195
46-60 years
191
over 60
88
Unknown
67
TOTAL
1167
Table 9. Age breakdown of mine casualties from 1996 to 2000 (to March
2000)[65]
TOTAL
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Children (0-18 years)
244
148
55
22
17
2
Adults (19-60 years)
768
404
194
98
62
10
Elderly (over 60 years)
88
39
20
18
10
1
Unknown
67
34
17
11
5
---
TOTAL
1.167
625
286
149
94
13
Table 10. Fatal and non-fatal injuries 1992-1999 (percentage) and 2000 (number
to March 2000)[66]
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Fatal
16
17.5
13.5
14
17
30.5
40
38.5
2
Non-fatal
84
82.5
86.5
86
83
69.5
60
61.5
11
The percentage of fatal injuries has risen in recent years. The ICRC
explains this could be due to increasing occurrence of accidents caused by UXO
and improvised explosive devices (IED), or the fact that injuries are often in
remote areas with poor access to medical
services.[67] It may also be
due to the types of mines encountered.
Table 11. Types of device causing injuries or death 1992-2000 (to March
2000)[68]
Table 13. Civilian (40 per cent) or military (59 per cent) status of mine
victims 1992-2000 (to March 2000)[70]
Total
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Civilian
1,726
175
188
183
159
510
268
145
87
11
Military
2.561
613
587
671
544
115
18
4
7
2
Unknown
26
13
13
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
TOTAL
4,313
801
788
854
703
625
286
149
94
13
Table 14. Casualties by gender (percentages) 1992-2000 (to March
2000) [71]
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Male
95
93.2
96
96.2
90.7
90.6
90.6
91.4
100
Female
5
6.8
4
3.8
9.3
9.4
9.4
8.6
Table 15. Casualties by origin of the mine victim 1996-2000 (to March
2000)[72]
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Number of mine victims
625
286
149
94
13
Internal displaced
20.5 %
22 %
23 %
25 %
2
Returnees
12.5 %
11 %
13.5 %
16 %
3
Local residents
67 %
67 %
63.5 %
59 %
8
[73.] On 26 June 2000, two
deminers employed by the MAC in Banja Luka were killed at Jorgici-Vrela, Teslic
municipality on the inter-Entity
boundary.[74]
Other organizations having detailed information about mine victims are
Landmine Survivors Network (LSN) and Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). LSN has
over 600 in-depth interviews with landmine survivors in its
database.[75] JRS works
directly with over 200 victims of landmines and houses specific information
about these cases within their
organization.[76]
Mine Victim Assistance
There are six international organizations in
Bosnia and Herzegovina providing assistance to landmine victims: the Austrian
Red Cross, ICRC, International Rescue Committee, JRS, LSN and Queens University.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has agreed to complete the Strategic Framework outlined
by the World Health Organization. The Federation Ministry of Health is
responsible for drafting an action plan, following the Mozambique table/guide,
which was to be completed by 15 March
2000.[77]
Bosnia and Herzegovina has four university clinical centers, in Tuzla,
Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka, which carry out all types of medical
treatments. There are thirty-one general hospitals in the Federation of BiH,
all in bigger towns, and the RS is believed to have about seven general
hospitals. General hospitals do not treat complicated cases which are sent to
the clinical centers. Blood transfusion centers are located in all general
hospitals. There are no private surgical clinics available in the country, only
small private general practices. First aid posts are located in all health
centers throughout the country. There are thirty-eight rehabilitation centers
in the Federation, and one center opened in Banja Luka in the RS. There are
prosthetic centers in the following regions: Sarajevo, two centers; Tuzla, one
center; Zenica, two centers; Cazin, one center; Banja Luka, three centers;
Trebinje; one center. Physical therapists are available in all rehabilitation
and prosthetic centers. There are six occupational therapists in rehabilitation
centers in Sarajevo and Tuzla.
There are no state programs for vocational rehabilitation but these programs
are implemented through some NGOs working with disabled. There are no workshops
for production and distribution of wheelchairs. Medico-social centers are
located in Sarajevo, Travnik, Fojnica, Prijedor, Jakes and Tuzla. Social
institutions helping disabled and all social categories of people are the only
government organization. There are seventy-four Centers for Social Aid, located
in all municipalities, that implement the legal regulations and social
compensation for the disabled.
There are sixty-one NGOs, including local associations for the disabled,
helping disabled people in Tuzla, Bihac, Mostar, Konjic, Sarajevo, Zenica, Banja
Luka and Trebinje. Activities are mainly educational, reconstruction and
reintegration programs. On the state level there are twenty-one sport clubs for
the disabled.[78]
Disability Policy and Practice
There are three laws on the State level regulating the rights of disabled: a
law on the rudiments of social protection of civilian war victims and protection
of families with children; a law on pension and invalid insurance; and a law on
health protection. Cantonal law covering the rights of landmine survivors is
also being developed. Public institutions and all other private and state
companies pay social insurance for their employees as well as health
insurance. There is also voluntary insurance paid by those who
are not employed but paying insurance according to the coefficient established
by the law on pension/invalid insurance.
All disabled people receive a pension in accordance with the percentage of
their disability. Military victims receive pensions through the military
invalid branch and civilian victims receive their pensions through the Social
Institutions. Military victims do not pay for medical treatments but they have
to pay for medicines, and civilian victims have to pay for treatment as well as
the medicines. There is a coalition of organizations working with the disabled
on the state level, that includes cantonal coordination bodies responsible for
following the disability laws and suggesting changes to the laws. LSN is part
of the coordination body for Tuzla
Canton.[79]
[1] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report,
submitted 1 February 2000, covering the period 8 March 1999-1 February 2000.
available at:
www.domino.un.org/ottawa.nsf. [2] For an
account of the events leading to the formation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992
and the agreements ending the conflict in 1994-1995, see Landmine Monitor Report
1999, pp. 550-552, 554. See also, “Background Information,”
Landmine Policy and Mine Action on Bosnia and Herzegovina (Washington DC:
Landmine Survivors Network, 1999), pp. 2-4. BiH consists of two
‘Entities’, the Federation of BiH and Republika
Srpska. [3] Information available on
website www.gichd.ch/docs/minebantreaty, viewed on 8 May
2000. [4] Interview with Mr. Eddie
Banks, Advisor to BiH Demining Commission, Sarajevo, 9 March
2000. [5] MBT Article 7 Report, 1
February 2000. [6] Sarajevo Summit
Declaration available at: www.stabilitypact.org, viewed on 8 May
2000. [7] Information from:
www.domino.un.org/ottawa.nsf, viewed on 8 May
2000. [8] Landmine Monitor Report 1999,
pp. 553-554. [9] Article 7 Report, Form
E. [10] Letter from Brigadier Haso Ribo,
Ministry of Defense, dated 21 April 2000, received as email attachment 25 April
2000. [11]
Ibid. [12]
Ibid. [13] Commercial Opportunities in
Converting the Bosnian Defense Complex to Civilian Production – Prospectus
for Landmine Production Plants, Rebuild International, November 1999; Rebuild
International is a consortium composed of six Canadian companies, focusing
exclusively on international peace building and reconstruction projects. See
also Landmine Monitor 2000 appendix on Production
Conversion. [14] SFOR Unclassified
Report, 7 December 1999; interview with Lt. Col. Iain James, Chief
Countermines/EOD Engineer Branch, Sarajevo, 14 December
1999. [15]
Ibid. [16] Email from Lt. Col. James, 20
January 2000; Article 7 Report, Form G. Not noted in the Article 7 report or
in BHMAC documents is the Caplinka mine, which one source had previously
identified as having been produced in the Mostar Region. See Landmine Monitor
Report 1999, p. 553. [17] Interview with
Lt. Col. James, Sarajevo, 14 December
1999. [18]
Ibid. [19] Article 7 Report, Form D.
This lists the number retained for training as 2,165, but the figures for each
type retained total only 2,145; the missing 20 are type PMR-2A retained by the
Federation, according to the Ministry of Defense. See, Information, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, about Convention on Ban
Usage, build-up, Production, and Trade of Landmines and Their Demolition,
Verification Center, Ministry of Defense, Federation of BiH, 15 December
2000. [20] Information about Convention,
Verification Center, Ministry of Defense, Federation of BiH, 15 December
2000. [21] Interview with Lt. Col.
James, Sarajevo, 14 December 1999. [22]
Article 7 Report, Form D. [23] Interview
with Eddie Banks, Advisor to Demining Commission, 9 March
2000. [24] Report on Demining Activities
in 1999, Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center, Sarajevo; the report was
submitted to the Board of Donors on 7 December 1999 by Filip Filipovic, BHMAC
Director. [25] Interview with Mr.
Aymeric-Albin Meyer, World Bank Transport Specialist, Washington, DC, 13 January
2000. [26] Email from Robert Strazisar,
Head of ITF Implementation Office, Sarajevo, 11 April
2000. [27]
Ibid. [28] Interview with Barbara
Curran, Second Secretary, Canadian Embassy, Sarajevo, 9 March
2000. [29] The effect on the population
of mines in Bosnia and Herzegovina was described in the Landmine Monitor Report
1999, pp. 555-556; see also Sinisa Malesevic, “Notes from the Field:
Bosnia”, Journal of Mine Action, 1, 4.1, (Spring issue) 2000, pp.
40-43. [30] Article 7 Report, Form
C. [31] Documents provided by Zoran
Grujic, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 9 March
2000. [32] Pamphlet distributed by the
Federation MAC, date unclear but likely April
1999. [33] Documents from Zoran Grujic,
BHMAC, Sarajevo, 9 March 2000. [34]
Information, Ministry of Defense, Federation of BiH, 15 December
2000. [35] Interview with Mr. Berislav
Pusic, BiH Demining Commission, Sarajevo, 7 March
2000. [36] For more information on early
stages of demining program, see Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp.
555-556. [37] Landmine Monitor regrets
the inability to meet with RS MAC staff during the visit to BiH in March
2000. [38] The List of Priority Tasks
for Urgent Demining in FBiH, Federation MAC, Sarajevo, February
2000. [39] Interview with Mr. Ahdin
Orahovac, Director, Federation MAC, Sarajevo, 9 March 2000; see also:
www.bhmac.org/fed [40]
Ibid. [41] Interview with David Rowe,
Acting Program Manager, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 9 March
2000. [42] Interview with Mr. Pusic, BiH
Demining Commission, Sarajevo, 7 March
2000. [43] Documents from Zoran Grujic,
BHMAC, Sarajevo, 9 March 2000. [44]
Interview with Filip Filipovic, Director of BHMAC, Sarajevo, 9 March
2000. [45] Report on Demining Activities
in 1999, BHMAC, 7 December 1999; the report notes that figures for the last four
months of 1999 may increase due to delayed
reporting. [46] Documents received from
Zoran Grujic, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 9 March
2000. [47]
Ibid. [48] Interview with Zoran Grujic,
Sarajevo, 14 December 1999. [49]
Interview with David Rowe, Sarajevo, 9 March
2000. [50] SFOR Unclassified Report, 7
December 1999; interview with Lt. Col. James, 14 December
1999. [51] List of all accredited
demining organizations provided by David Rowe, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 9 March
2000. [52] Interview with Tim Horner,
former UNHCR Head of Demining, Sarajevo, 6 March
2000. [53] Melissa Eddy, “Bosnia
Still Littered With Mines, Corruption Slows Cleanup Process,” Associated
Press and Washington Times, 5 June 2000, p.
5. [54] Interview with Graham Grant,
Deputy Program Manager, HELP, Sarajevo, 8 March
2000. [55] Letter from Ian Clarke, HELP
to BHMAC Director, Sarajevo, 9 December
1999. [56] Email from Kjell Bork, Acting
Program Manager BiH, Norwegian People’s Aid, 19 January
2000. [57]
Ibid. [58] Interview with Esperanza
Vives, Mine Awareness, UNICEF, Sarajevo, 14 December
1999. [59] Email from Vanja Bojinovic,
MA Coordinator for BiH, ICRC, Sarajevo, 8 March
2000. [60]
Ibid. [61] Email from Vanja Bojinovic,
MA Coordinator for BiH Sarajevo, ICRC, 14 April
2000. [62]
Ibid. [63]
Ibid. [64]
Ibid. [65]
Ibid. [66]
Ibid. [67]
Ibid. [68]
Ibid. [69]
Ibid. [70]
Ibid. [71]
Ibid. [72] Ibid.; precentages were
calculated for each year separately; though percentages may be higher, the
actual number of mine victims per year is
decreasing. [73.] ”Landmines: UN
Cites Plan to Combat Accidental Deaths,” Associated Press and Baltimore
Sun, 12 April 2000; Three Sarajevo Children Killed by Landmine,” Reuters,
11 April 2000; “Landmine Kills Three Children in Bosnia,” Associated
Press, 11 April 2000; Alexander S. Dragicevic, “Mines Still Render
Bosnians Helpless,” Associated Press and Chicago Tribune, 12 April
2000. [74] “Two People Killed by
Land-mine,” Itar/Tass, 27 June
2000. [75] Interview with Plamenko
Priganica, BiH Director, Landmine Survivors Network, Tuzla, 13 December
1999. [76] Interview with Eugene Quinn,
MVAP Program Director, Jesuit Refugee Service, Sarajevo, 8 March
2000. [77] Interview Dr. Goran Cerkez,
Task Force Manager, Federation of BiH Ministry of Health, Sarajevo, 7 March
2000. [78] Information provided by
Landmine Survivors Network BiH, January
2000. [79] Ibid.
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