Donor Committee Meeting on Mine Clearance in BiH Held: Continued International Support Necessary for Removal of Landmines in BiH

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) and with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organized a Donor Committee meeting today to present to donors the current activities, challenges, and priorities in the field of mine action. The purpose of the meeting was to review the results achieved so far and to present priorities for 2025, with an emphasis on the importance of continued international support.

Minister of Civil Affairs, Dubravka Bošnjak, addressing the donors, stated that based on the average annual rate of implementation of the mine clearance plan over the past 10-15 years—specifically, the reduction of mine-suspected areas during this period—it is evident that the rate of implementation is insufficient to meet the goals set under the Ottawa Convention. "Setting realistic and achievable mine clearance plans is crucial for effectively monitoring progress and establishing accountability. Only when goals are clearly defined and attainable can we objectively measure progress and analyse results. Previous approaches, relying on unrealistic and overly ambitious plans, have often resulted in low achievement rates. In such cases, the lack of realism in the set goals led to apathy, as it was clear that these plans were unachievable. As a result, there was no possibility for proper monitoring of the mine clearance process, further complicating the determination of accountability for achieving the set goals. Only through realistic plans can we provide a basis for transparency and accountability in this important process," said Bošnjak.

The Minister also highlighted successes in mine clearance, particularly the areas around Mostar, Fojnica, and Ugljevik, while the mine clearance project in the Brčko District is in its final stages. She reported that by the end of October 2024, the remaining suspected mine areas will cover 826 km², while over 3,355 km² have been cleared since the war, with more than 156,000 landmines and explosive devices removed.

During the Donor Committee meeting, it was announced that mine clearance projects, including those financed by EU IPA funds amounting to 10 million euros, will continue into 2025. Additional initiatives were also announced, such as the integrated development of the Sava and Drina river corridors, within which suspected mine areas will be cleared.

In order to accelerate demining activities, the Ministry has initiated the procedure for adopting a new Mine Clearance Law, which will allow for better coordination among relevant institutions and speed up the mine clearance process. It is also important, as emphasized, that mine action relies on domestic funding sources to reduce dependence on international donors.

At the meeting, conclusions were adopted emphasizing the need to strengthen the capacity of domestic institutions, the digital transformation of the mine clearance process, and greater involvement of local communities and authorities in financing mine action. Donor Committee meetings will continue with the goal of coordinating activities and monitoring progress in mine clearance in Bosnia and Herzegovina.