Europe & CIS

Make your mark – save a life

18 March, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Landmines cover almost 4 percent of the surface of Bosnia and Herzegovina, making it the most mine-ridden country in Europe. Long after the end of the war, these weapons continue to cause death and injury and disrupt everyday lives, but their removal is an expensive process. In the run-up to Mine Action Day, UNDP is supporting a campaign to get further financial support for this crucial work.

Since 1996, there have been 1,611 mine accidents, in which 473 people have died. Last year there were 30 victims, eight of whom died, and in 2008, mines have killed two and injured three persons. A mine presence study in BiH conducted in 2007 identified 1,631 communities that face mine threats. The contaminated locations directly affect security of over 900,000 people, which makes Bosnia and Herzegovina one of the most mine affected countries in the world, hindering its development and secure life of its citizens.

Annual costs of the demining process in BiH are very high. The 2007 estimation says that a successful mine clearance in BiH – implementable in the next 10 years – will take around 80 million BAM (41m euros) annually. Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have such funds, and depends heavily on foreign donations to complete the task. Hence, this year’s 4th April will focus on allocation of resources for mine action through opening of the humanitarian telephone lines by the national telephone providers m:tel, HT Eronet and BH Telecom.

International Mine Action Day, 4th April, has been commemorated for three years in BiH. The organization and coordination of this event, of great significance for Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been led by the UNDP, BHMAC, UNICEF, International Red Cross, LSN, ITF, EUFOR and the Ministry for Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, supported by the Council of Ministers. This year, the support was also granted by the Football Federation of BiH, Kurt & Plasto, BHT, FTV, RTRS, HT Eronet and m:tel.

This year, citizens, public and private companies, the media and others willing to contribute are invited to give 'One BAM for Another Safe Step'. This chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Mr. Nikola Špirić, and the UN Resident Coordinator in BiH, Ms. Christine McNab, officially launched the campaign today, seeking to draw the attention of local and international donors to the need for further financial support to mine action in BiH.

Thanks to good cooperation with the International Trust Fund (ITF) from Slovenia, the resources collected through this action will be matched by the ITF, which will hopefully encourage more people to join the action and give their contribution to final mine clearance in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The phone numbers for citizens’ contribution to demining are:

• for m:tel – 1413;
• for HT Eronet – 092 800 850;
• for BH Telecom – 090 290 004.

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