Key
developments since May 2001: A new demining law was approved in February
2002. Donors provided $16.6 million in mine action funding in 2001. Demining
operations cleared 5.5 to 6 million square meters of land in 2001, and 73.5
million square meters of land were surveyed. A national Landmine Impact Survey
is expected to start in November 2002. There were 87 mine and UXO casualties in
2001, a reduction from 2000.
MINE BAN POLICY
Bosnia and Herzegovina
(BiH)[1] signed the Mine Ban
Treaty on 3 December 1997 and ratified it on 8 September 1998, becoming a State
Party on 1 March 1999. BiH reported on 20 May 2002 that a “special
law” prohibiting use and production of antipersonnel mines was in the
process of creation and “should be completed by autumn
2002.”[2] The Demining
Commission stated that it was working on a first draft and would do its utmost
to have the new law adopted by the end of
2002.[3] Zoran Grujic, Assistant
Director of Information of the BiH Mine Action Center (BHMAC), told Landmine
Monitor that the possession, production, storage, and use of antipersonnel mines
was already criminalized as “any other explosive device” by existing
law in BiH.[4]
After long delays, BiH adopted a Demining Law on 12 February
2002.[5] The UN High
Representative described the importance of the new legislation: “This
legislation will strengthen the Demining Commission, creating a single focal
point that will represent BiH demining operations in its relations with the
international community. The law will authorize BHMAC to implement the same
standards for demining across BiH, and for the first time offer protection to
deminers by defining their responsibilities and rights in line with
international standards.”[6]
The law entered into force in March 2002.
BiH attended the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in
September 2001 in Nicaragua. On 29 November 2001, BiH cosponsored and voted in
favor of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 56/24M supporting the Mine
Ban Treaty. BiH participated in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings
in January and May 2002.
BiH submitted its third Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 transparency report on 20
May 2002.[7] It submitted its
annual report on landmines to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) on 26 April
2002.[8]
BiH is party to Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Conventional Weapons
(CCW), but did not submit a national annual report in December 2001. BiH did
not attend the Third Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II
in December 2001, but did attend the subsequent CCW Second Review Conference.
PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER
BiH has not reported the date on which it ceased
production of antipersonnel mines. There is no evidence of production or
transfer of antipersonnel mines since entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty in
March 1999. About half of the former Yugoslavia’s defense production was
located in BiH, with substantial mine production at factories in Gorazde,
Vogosca, and Bugojno.
BiH’s first Article 7 Report on 1 February 2000 stated that BiH
“has not completed the planning process appertaining to the conversion or
decommissioning of APM production facilities. The work is intended to be
undertaken this year (2000) and will be reported on as and when the plans are
completed.”[9] BiH’s
two subsequent Article 7 Reports state that “the Bugojno factory has
destroyed all the equipment used in mine production,” but do not refer to
the other former production
facilities.[10]
Requested to supply the missing information, two members of the Demining
Commission stated in January 2002 that all production facilities had been
decommissioned.[11] The same
month, the director of the Gorazde factory confirmed that it did previously
produce antipersonnel mines (contradicting an earlier denial by the Federation
Defense Minister)[12] and added
that its production facilities remain in
place.[13]
STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION
Destruction of antipersonnel mine stockpiles was
completed by November 1999, with a total of 460,727 mines
destroyed.[14] In addition to
those mines, BiH reports the ongoing destruction of mines acquired in mine
clearance operations and collected by the Entity Armies, civil protection teams,
and the international Stabilization Forces’ (SFOR) Operation Harvest. By
1 September 2001, a total of 71,829 antipersonnel mines acquired or collected in
these ways were destroyed, and by 30 April 2002 the total had increased to
73,703.[15]
BiH’s initial Article 7 Report of February 2000 noted a total of 2,165
antipersonnel mines retained under Article 3 for training and development
purposes.[16] The two later
Article 7 Reports of September 2001 and May 2002 note a total of 2,405 mines
retained. The bigger total includes fuzeless mines and fuzes not reported
initially, as well as an additional 20 PMR-21 antipersonnel
mines.[17]
A BHMAC official told Landmine Monitor that some of the discrepancies in the
Article 7 Reports were due to the lack of continuity between the previous and
current Demining Commission. He added that with the new Demining Law, the
current Demining Commission will be able to demand more complete
information.[18]
According to the Article 7 Reports, neither the Republika Srpska nor the
Federation entity has expended any of the retained mines since entry into force;
no details of the planned purposes for which they are being retained have been
reported.
USE
Landmine Monitor Report 2001 included a
number of reports of possible use of antipersonnel mines in BiH, particularly in
relation to suspected attempts by Bosnian Serbs in southern Bosnia to prevent
the return of Bosnian Muslim refugees. In December 2001 and January 2002, BiH
officials stated that there was no evidence of new emplacement of antipersonnel
landmines.[19] In February 2002,
a Croat in the town of Travnik, who had returned there a few days before, was
seriously injured by a mine. The Office of the High Representative stated that
“if this was a return-related incident, we strongly condemn it, and that
is why we are for a fast and efficient
investigation.”[20] On
20February 2002, unknown people mined the house of the former police
crime department head in Bileca, in the southeast of Republika
Srpska.[21]
Caches of munitions including mines have been discovered. In October 2001,
the international Stabilization Force found two illegal weapons caches,
including antitank mines, in underground bunkers near the east Bosnian town of
Han Pijesak.[22] Other caches of
mines and munitions were found in southeastern Bosnia, near Kopaci, in March
2002 and near Doboj in April
2002.[23] In July 2002, it was
reported in the press that “significantly more weapons and
ammunition” were collected by SFOR “this year as compared to last
year.... This year, Bosnians have turned in 18,666 hand grenades, 2,826 mines,
4,893 small arms....”[24]
LANDMINE PROBLEM
The BHMAC has described BiH as probably the most
heavily mined country in Europe following extensive use of landmines, especially
antipersonnel mines, during the 1991-1995 war. A considerable quantity of
unexploded ordnance (UXO) also affects the
country.[25] The BHMAC described
the situation as “a threat which is generally low density and random in
nature. The total area potentially affected is in the order of 4,000 square
kilometers and the bulk of it still requires survey in order to determine the
finite extent of the
problem.”[26]
By 30 April 2002, BHMAC had recorded 18,228 minefields. However, it
estimates the probable total number to be 30,000, containing approximately one
million mines.[27] BHMAC also
estimates that two million items of UXO are still
unlocated.[28]
BHMAC explains that there has been no complete national survey, and these
records refer only to known minefields. More minefields are being discovered
from better reporting and from clearance activity. In the middle and southern
part of BiH, most mines were randomly laid by soldiers not trained for orderly
laying of mines and accurate record-keeping; many of the minefield records are
therefore nonexistent or useless. BHMAC has received no minefield reports from
the Serb army for the areas around Sarajevo and
Gorazde.[30]
SURVEY AND ASSESSMENT
The amount of land surveyed increased in 2001,
although it was previously reported that survey teams were reduced due to lack
of funding. In 2001, 73,475,085 square meters of land were covered by survey,
bringing the total area surveyed since 1998 to 212,000,000 square
meters.[31] In 2000, 70,697,945
square meters were surveyed. In 1999, only 573,299 square meters were surveyed
due to concentration on testing and
demining.[32] BHMAC has confirmed
that these data refer to both general survey and technical survey; BHMAC has not
recorded separate statistics for
each.[33]
The Mine Action Center in the Federation entity reported that during 2001 a
significant innovation was introduced, the systematic survey, to determine the
position, size and borders of mine suspected locations, and their level of risk
and impact on the population. This was implemented because existing data is not
precise enough to plan mine action of good quality and secure funding for
it.[34]
The Survey Action Center (SAC) mission to BiH in 2000 was reviewed in the
Landmine Monitor Report 2001. SAC recommended major revisions to
information management systems, a Landmine Impact Survey, and conversion to the
Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) database system. Mine
Action Center staff were unwilling to change information management practices
substantially or conduct a Landmine Impact Survey. Instead, a consultant
reviewed existing systems and made recommendations in a report, A Study of the
Information Management Needs of the BiH Mine Action Centre, dated 21 May
2001.[35] BHMAC stated in April
2002 that it will retain its existing information management system but make it
XML- and IMSMA-compatible. It will be linked with, though not made part of, the
Geographic Information
System.[36]
However, international donors directed that the recommended Landmine Impact
Survey should go ahead. At the Board of Donors meeting on 20 March 2002, the US
representative said, “With funds channeled through the ITF, the United
States and the European Union have agreed to fund a Landmine Impact Survey,
using the Survey Action Center as the implementing partner.”[37] SAC carried out an advance survey
mission in early 2002. The SAC will contract with Handicap International,
Cranfield University and Geo-Spatial to conduct the survey and follow-on
planning. The survey will begin in November 2002 and should take approximately
8-10 months, with a report issued within a year from the start of the survey
itself.[38]
COORDINATION AND PLANNING OF MINE ACTION
At the national level, the new demining law
establishes the BiH Demining Commission as the central body for demining
activities, with responsibility for implementing the long-term task of mine
clearance in BiH. The Commission is located within the Ministry of Civil
Affairs and Communication, and is responsible to this ministry for its work.
The BiH Mine Action Center is the technical service of the Demining Commission,
established by the BiH Council of Ministers. BHMAC will have offices in Banja
Luka and Sarajevo. At the international level, the Board of Donors has the
function of supporting the work of the Demining Commission and BHMAC. The new
law states that the Board of Donors will consist of the UN Development Program
(UNDP), the Office of the High Representative (OHR), and other donor
representatives.[39]
The Demining Law also regulates the implementation of demining operations in
accordance with the mine action plan approved by the Commission in cooperation
with the Board of Donors. BHMAC is responsible for formulating and proposing
the mine action plan, which must be approved by the Council of Ministers. A
Tender Commission will be appointed by the Demining Commission to regulate the
tender process and ensure that it is transparent. The new law regulates working
conditions for deminers, including working hours per day and rest between
shifts. BHMAC will accredit deminers, who must be trained in accordance with
BiH standards.[40]
A draft “Demining Strategy Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Year
of 2010” was presented to the Board of Donors on 20 March 2002. The
strategy aims to complete demining of first priority land by 2010. The draft
Strategy states that to realize these aims by 2010, the cost will be
KM657,500,000 (US$313 million) or €333
million.[41] In 2002, 5.5 percent
of demining expenditure will be provided from the State and Entity budgets. In
2003, it is planned that this will increase to 10 percent, and every following
year increase by 5 percent so that by 2009 BiH will be funding 40 percent of the
cost of demining in total. After 2010, this will increase to 70
percent.[42]
The draft plan remains under discussion. Final approval is dependent on the
Landmine Impact Survey.[43]
In addition to the BHMAC, there are Entity Mine Action Centers (EMACs)
– the Federation MAC (FMAC) and the Republika Srpska MAC
(RSMAC).[44] The BHMAC workplan
for 2002 includes prioritization of 1,055 tasks for general survey (FMAC 700,
RSMAC 355), general surveying of 1,500 locations (FMAC 1,000, RSMAC 500) and 900
demining projects (FMAC 600, RSMAC 300). A general survey will also be
performed on 34 million square meters of risk area (FMAC 26 million square
meters, RSMAC 8 million) and on 51 million square meters without obvious risk
(FMAC 34 million square meters, RSMAC 17 million) making a total of 85 million
square meters of general surveyed
area.[45]
MINE ACTION FUNDING
Funding of mine action in BiH has been primarily
channeled through the UNDP or the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine
Victims Assistance (ITF). Some of contributions are directed to mine action
operations (predominantly demining), while some were channeled via UNDP for
support to the three Mine Action Centers. The government has made an in-kind
contribution to mine clearance by payment of salaries of Entity Army demining
teams and tax exemption for demining organizations.
[47] Funding in 2001 totaled
$16.6 million, while the UNDP estimated that approximately $23 million per year
was needed for demining activities in BiH and an additional $3 million to
maintain the Mine Action
Centers.[48] The funding crisis
for the MACs has apparently stabilized. The UNDP project in BiH ends in
mid-2003, by which time it is expected that the government will cover all staff
costs for the MACs, with international donors funding only the operational costs
of demining.[49]
In February 2002, the UNDP confirmed that the total amount of planned funding
for the Mine Action Centers via the UNDP for the two-year period July 2001 -
June 2003 is $3,058,503, with contributions by Canada, Slovenia, Sweden, UK, and
the US (all via the ITF) and directly to UNDP from Germany, the Netherlands,
Norway, South Korea[50]
The International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance, set up
by Slovenia, is a favored funding vehicle for international donors, as donations
received by the ITF are doubled by US matching funds before being distributed to
countries in South Eastern Europe.
Funding of mine action in BiH by the ITF declined in 2001. The ITF allocated
$8,305,216 to mine action in BiH in 2001 (representing 32.5 percent of its
funding of mine action in South East
Europe).[51] This is a decrease
from the previous year ($11,115,576 or 52 percent of ITF spending). In 2002, it
is planned to allocate 28.6 percent of ITF funds to
BiH.[52]
In 2001, 17 percent of the ITF allocation to BiH was directed to UNDP for
support of the MACs (stated by the ITF to be $1,382,041). Demining received 76
percent (87 percent in 2000), rehabilitation received 5 percent and other mine
victim assistance programs 2 percent (compared to 13 percent on all victim
assistance in 2000).[53]
The United States in fiscal year 2001 contributed $5,160,600 to mine action
in BiH, all via the ITF.[54] For
calendar year 2002, planned US contributions total $5,245,000. Of this, $3.2
million is designated for commercial and NGO mine clearance, and nearly $1.2
million for victim assistance. The US also plans to support a regional dog
training and operations center in BiH in
2002.[55]
Canada contributed Can$1,708,643 ($1,106,159) for various programs and
periods in BiH in 2001, including Can$522,000 ($337,938) for mine clearance (by
the entity armies, and the Akcija Protiv Mine and Norwegian People’s Aid),
Can$119,175 ($77,153) for mine detection dog training, Can$472,708 ($306,026)
for two victim assistance programs, and Can$570,100 ($369,077) via the UNDP to
support the Mine Action Centers. For 2002, Canada budgeted Can$914,607
($592,107), including Can$172,502 ($111,675) for mine clearance, Can$253,637
($164,202) for mine detection dog training, Can$177,000 ($114,588) for two
victim assistance programs, and Can$290,000 ($187,743) via UNDP to support the
Mine Action Centers. All Canadian funding is channeled through the ITF, which
deducts an administration fee from the annual
totals.[56]
Italy provided €224,142 ($201,279) for UN International
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) mine awareness programs and €245,160
($220,154) for mine clearance carried out by the Italian NGO
Intersos.[57]
Norway provided NOK14,469,179 ($1,721,325) to Norwegian People’s Aid
for manual mine clearance and NOK4,746,525 ($564,670) for mechanical clearance,
both through the ITF. Additionally NOK500,000 ($59,482) was donated to the MAC
structure through UNDP.[58]
Austria funded the International Committee of the Red Cross in BiH with
ATS1,888,696 ($123,710).[59]
MINE CLEARANCE
According to the BHMAC database, in 2001 a total of
5,545,005 square meters of land were cleared, and 3,113 mines and 2,675 items of
UXO were found and destroyed.[60]
BHMAC reports that in 2000, a total of 7,111,000 square meters of land was
cleared, with 5,797 mines and 3,408 UXO found and
destroyed.[61]
According to a member of the Demining Commission, “At present BiH is
using only 30 percent of its demining capacity. The country has a capacity of
2,000 deminers, but only 600 of them are presently engaged, and they are not
even 100 percent
engaged.”[62]
Analysis of the clearance organizations responsible reveals that 49 percent
was cleared by commercial companies, 26 percent by NGOs, 16 percent by Entity
Armies and 9 percent by civil protection forces. Compared with 2000, commercial
companies cleared less in 2001, and all others cleared larger proportions.
There were 44 mine clearance organizations accredited to work in BiH in 2001 (32
in 2000).[63]
Housing accounted for the greatest proportion of land cleared in 2001 (51
percent compared with 47 percent in 2000), agriculture for a smaller proportion
(15 percent compared with 20 percent in 2000), and electric power for a lower
proportion (7 percent compared with 17 percent in
2000).[64]
The aggregate amount of land reported cleared in 2001 by the two Entities is
5,964,385 square meters, or 419,380 square meters more than the figure provided
by BHMAC.
Federation of BiH
In this entity, the target for mine clearance in
2001 was 10 million square meters; the actual achievement was 4,425,189 square
meters. On 246 demining sites (including 418 houses), a total of 2,529
antipersonnel mines, 73 antitank mines, and 2,246 items of UXO were found and
destroyed. Clearance achievements were similar in
2000.[65]
The Federation Mine Action Center reported that its army demining unit, with
19 teams at 16 demining sites, cleared 765,270 square meters in 2001,
exceeding its target of 670,000 square
meters.[66] In 2001, civil
protection forces in the Federation cleared 358,147 square
meters.[67]
Republika Srpska
The RSMAC reported that in 2001 a total of
1,539,196 square meters of land was demined in 112 tasks, with 147 houses
cleared, and 528 antipersonnel mines, 106 antitank mines and 397 UXO
found.[68] The RSMAC reported
that the RS army demined 188,759 square meters in 19 demining tasks in 2001,
with five houses cleared, 183 antipersonnel mines, no antitank mines and 88 UXO
found.[69] In 2001, civil
protection forces in Republika Srpska cleared 121,079 square
meters.[70]
NGOs and Commercial Demining Companies
The total area reported cleared by ITF-funded NGOs
and commercial companies in BiH in 2001 was 3,001,837 square meters, during
which 1,875 mines and 896 UXO were destroyed. This compares to 3.9 million
square meters cleared in 2000.[71]
NGO demining operations accounted for 1,197,404 square meters of the 2001
total.[72] In 2001, there were 26
commercial demining companies accredited to work in BiH.
Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) has carried out mine/UXO clearance and
other mine action projects in BiH since 1996. In 1997, NPA teams moved to
Sarajevo canton. In 2001-2002, NPA teams re-focused on more rural areas, with
some work continuing in suburban parts of Sarajevo. Although most minefields in
BiH are low-density, there is a high-density minefield on the outskirts of
Sarajevo on which NPA has been working. This has an area of 3,113 square meters
and contains 889 antipersonnel mines; in one particularly intensive day, NPA
located 194 mines here. NPA has introduced new task impact assessment
procedures, which include socio-economic evaluation of mine clearance carried
out (described as Level 4 survey). NPA employs 167 people in its mine action
programs in BiH, including six platoons of manual deminers, a mine detection dog
project, a small mechanical demining team, and EOD, technical survey and medical
teams. It also carries out mine risk education and is involved in research
programs into mine
clearance.[73]
The Italian NGO, Intersos, has undertaken to clear 40,000 square meters of
the Famos industrial complex in Hrasnica, Sarajevo canton, from January to
December 2002. This land is highly contaminated with low metal content PMA-3
mines and the ground contains ferrous material, making location of mines with
metal detectors very difficult. Clearance is almost wholly manual, and local
deminers are involved.[74]
The Canadian International Demining Corps has since 1999 trained and supplied
40 mine detection dogs and their Bosnian handlers for deployment in mine
clearance operations throughout Bosnia. Thirty-four dogs are accredited and
operational as of mid-2002.[75]
MINE RISK EDUCATION
There was no national policy on mine risk education
in BiH through 2001, but it is included in the 10-year national plan of mine
action.[76] Mine risk education
in BiH has been carried out by international organizations, mainly the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UNDP, UNICEF, foreign and
national NGOs and aid organizations, entity/cantonal ministries of education,
entity Red Cross organizations, SFOR, BHMAC, and the Entity Mine Action Centers.
BHMAC has a coordinating role, responsible for training and standards, while
the EMACs are responsible for mine risk education in their areas, including
training. A meeting and training course organized by BHMAC in 2001 identified
the lack of uniform approach as a problem for mine risk education in
BiH.[77] The BHMAC course
identified the future challenge as improving and strengthening the present
structure, coordinating more efficiently and integrating into a uniform system,
while taking into account the funding
available.[78]
All primary schools in BiH are supposed to conduct six mine risk education
lessons each school year, but this depends on the location of each school and
other factors such as recognition of the need and an overloaded school
curriculum.[79]
RSMAC. In 2001, the mine awareness section in RSMAC did
45 presentations in schools and small communities, attended by 1,770 people,
including returnees. The RSMAC mine risk education working group met eight
times in 2001. A four-day training course for instructors was held in Jahorina
in May 2001; 25 people attended, mainly scouts and mountaineers. UNDP, Handicap
International, and the ICRC supported the training financially. A four-day
course for the police took place in December 2001 in Banja Luka, with 31
policeman from both Entities attending. They were trained to conduct mine risk
education programs in elementary and high schools. In 2001, 147 newspaper
articles on mine awareness were published in the daily and weekly newspapers in
Republika Srpska.[80]
FMAC. In 2001, there were eight meetings of the mine
risk education coordination group in the Federation. Activities included the
mine risk education of 2,695 people from high risk areas, distribution of
material through the UNDP mine risk education campaign (18,469 posters, 200
leaflets, 160,390 schedules for children, 46,033 badges, 1,656 T-shirts, 18,106
notebooks), a 5-day course for instructors from mountain associations, and 338
lectures by 10 FMAC
instructors.[81]
UNICEF. The mine risk education activities described in the
previous Landmine Monitor continued in 2001. UNICEF’s general objectives
for 2002-2004 are capacity-building within the BiH government and communities to
prevent children becoming casualties of mine incidents and strengthen
coordination of mine action programs. As part of this, major activities will be
support of local initiatives and innovative approaches on how to live with
mines, and developing a community action kit with tools for community prevention
of mine injuries with training of selected communities on how to use the
kits.[82]The overall
budget for this three- year project was
$445,000.[83]
ICRC.[84] The
ICRC, in close cooperation with Red Cross organizations in both entities,
continues to carry out mine- and UXO- risk education activities countrywide.
Community-based activities are implemented through a countrywide network of
trained Red Cross mine risk education instructors targeting high-risk groups of
local residents (farmers, hunters, fishermen, woodcutters and others),
returnees, internally displaced people, and children. The ICRC has also focused
on building up the capacity of Republika Srpska to respond adequately to the
needs of affected communities. In 2001, over 4,000 presentations and about
5,600 group discussions, involving 96 instructors, were organized for some
107,000 participants.
The ICRC also has a data-gathering function in BiH. By working at community
level it continues to collect data on mine/UXO casualties, and the statistics
are help to shape the ICRC’s mine action policies. The statistics are
published and shared with other organizations working on mine awareness, victim
assistance, demining, and the return process.
The Local Initiative program is designed to support initiatives originating
at the grassroots level and encourage community members to help find answers to
the mine/UXO problem. Some projects are entirely conceived and implemented by
local Red Cross branches, such as the simulated minefield organized in Tuzla.
Other local initiatives involved simple leaflets with messages specific to
mines/UXO in the area and safe behavior, in Kupres, Modrica and Vukosavlje
municipalities.
Mine risk education work with returnees has increased as the return process
has gathered pace, including cross-entity sharing of information and
cooperation, joint presentations and discussions on mine-related issues in the
Gorazde, Tuzla, Doboj, Zenica and Birac areaa. Presentations were organized for
returnees in all 29 tent settlements in the Gorazde area.
Red Cross Youth associations organized training for their members in Trebinje
region, Una-Sana and Sarajevo cantons. Youth activists performed the mine
awareness play “Little Red Riding Hood” throughout Una-Sana canton.
For children with special needs, video tapes of the play, comic books on mine
awareness and audio tapes were delivered to 23 schools for children with special
needs.
In secondary schools the ICRC has introduced a mine risk education program as
an out-of-school activity, with much support from the entity-level ministries of
education. In the Federation, four training seminars were organized in
September and October 2001 targeting secondary school teachers from the cantons
of Sarajevo, Gorazde, Herceg-Bosna, Zenica-Doboj, and Tuzla. In Republika
Srpska, at the ICRC’s initiative, teachers in five secondary schools
introduced questionnaires on mine danger into the classroom.
UNDP.[85]
Evaluation of mine risk education effectiveness from 27 April to mid-September
2001 found a “measured increase in the level of awareness of the dangers
posed by mines and UXO in the target population in both BiH entities as a direct
result of the media campaign.” Additionally, the independent assessment
detected “a clear increase in the level of knowledge of the prescribed
mine safe behaviors in the target population” and concluded, “the
UNDP mine and UXO awareness campaign was effective and successful.”
For 2002, the UNDP considered two mine risk education initiatives: a
two-month extension of the 2001 media campaign, re-broadcasting animated short
films and printing a limited number of support materials for schoolchildren, and
co-sponsoring the mine awareness seminar for journalists in March.
Other.[86] In
2001-2002, several other organizations were involved in mine risk education
activities, including:
APM- Bihac and Handicap International trained primary school
teachers to be mine risk education instructors. In 2001 they completed this
work in all Federation cantons, educating 26,742 people (1,525 teachers and
25,217 children) and distributed 350 sets of mine risk education materials.
PRONI works on education of young people in Brcko distict area and
northern Federation. In 2001 six mine risk education instructors gave 186
presentations to 6,990 people, and distributed 906 posters, 600 leaflets, 7,200
brochures, 1,700 badges, and 50 t-shirts.
Mountain Roof Association BiH has been educated by the Federation MAC
to conduct mine awareness instruction, with eight instructors who gave 13
lectures to 330 people in 2001. They also distributed 1,800 posters, 6,000
brochures, 3,000 badges, 120 t-shirts and 300 notebooks.
Mountain Roof Association HB was also trained by the Federation MAC
to conduct mine risk education instruction, with six instructors who gave five
lectures to 50 people in 2001. They also distributed 900 posters, 3,000
brochures, 150 badges, 60 t-shirts, and 200 notebooks.
Mountain Association Medex Novi Travnik carry out educational work in
children’s camps throughout BiH. In cooperation with the GVC
organization, their seven mine risk education instructors gave 44 lectures to
1,450 people in 2001, and distributed 300 posters, 1,000 leaflets, 2,000
brochures, 1,000 badges, and 200 notebooks.
LANDMINE/UXO CASUALTIES
In 2001, reported landmine/UXO explosions killed 32
people and injured 55 others, including 12 children, representing a decrease
from the 100 new casualties reported in 2000. Of the new casualties, 84 were
civilians. On 2 April 2001, a landmine explosion near the southwestern town of
Prozor killed a French soldier serving with SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
during a reconnaissance
operation.[87]
Landmines and UXO continued to claim casualties in 2002, with 15 civilians
killed and 19 injured up to 10 May
2002.[88]
The ICRC, working at the community level throughout the country, continues to
collect data and provide up-to-date information on landmine and UXO incidents.
As of 10 May 2002, the ICRC database contained information on 4,733 individuals
killed or injured by landmines or
UXO.[89] The database is
continuously updated from field reports, and in some instances information is
collected on casualties that occurred in prior years that were not previously
recorded.[90] Based on the ICRC
statistics, between 1996 and 2002 the mine incident rate fell from an average of
52 casualties per month to just over seven casualties per month.
The statistics indicate that local residents of mine-affected areas, rather
than internally displaced persons or returning refugees, continue to record the
highest number of incidents, and rural males aged 20-40 years are most likely to
fall victim to mines, as they practice high-risk behavior. The population is,
in many cases, aware of the existence of mines and the danger they pose, but all
do not practice safe behavior mainly due to the economic necessity of
cultivating the land, although other factors also come into play. Of the
casualties reported in 2001, 35.6 percent had knowledge of the danger of
mines.[91]
Seasonal variations indicate that the highest risk for the population is
March to May, July and August, which are the months of peak agricultural
activity. The majority of casualties were injured while farming (rural males),
incurring the risk pursuing activities out of economic
need.[92]
The ICRC’s ongoing data collection also indicates that children,
despite preventive measures, continue to fall victim to landmines and UXO in
BiH. Children under the age of 18 accounted for 13.8 percent of new casualties
reported in 2001.
Landmine/UXO Casualties in the ICRC Database (1992-10 May
2002)[93]
Year
No. of casualties
1992 – 1995
3,346
1996
632
1997
290
1998
149
1999
95
2000
100
2001
87
2002 (to 10 May)
34
Post-war total
1,387
TOTAL
4,733
SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE
The government of BiH, and the international
community, continue to work towards alleviating the medical and socio-economic
obstacles faced by landmine survivors, nevertheless, no overall coordination
exists. In general, mine survivors continue to be neglected and their needs and
problems are not tackled in a systematic way. The existing assistance programs
are conducted in isolation, and coordination occurs only on a bilateral basis,
which does not always avoid duplication of
efforts.[94]
As reported last year, the Strategic Framework for survivor assistance was
intended to have political and technical/operational
levels.[95] However, by February
2002 no progress had been made on implementing the plan and no reasons have been
given for this lack of
progress.[96] The ICRC and NGOs
are not involved in the process of implementing the Strategic
Framework.[97]
There are more than 20 general hospitals in BiH, and every municipality has a
public health center. CBR centers provide some physical and psychological
rehabilitation. A few hospitals and public health centers also provide some
physical therapy and rehabilitation. In addition, six rehabilitation centers in
BiH, offer special hydrotherapy treatment for persons with
disabilities.[98] State-run
social welfare centers are located in each municipality and can assist landmine
survivors at the local level. However, their capacities to assist are
limited.[99]
Under the War Victims Rehabilitation Project, the World Bank supported the
opening of the community based rehabilitation centers (CBR) in BiH. The
project, completed in December 1999 at a cost of $30 million, included the
rehabilitation of facilities and provision of equipment, essential drugs and
supplies, training and technical assistance for physiotherapy, occupational
therapy, and psycho-social
rehabilitation.[100] There are 38
CBR centers in FBiH, and six centers in RS. Queen’s University provided
training for staff in the centers. The Japanese Government donated US$8 million
worth of equipment to the RS Ministry of Health to facilitate the opening of 17
more CBRs in the RS in the near
future.[101] The preconditions
set are that the centers must have “a minimum of 200m2 space,
one doctor-specialist in physiotherapy, two nurses, two
physiotherapists/technicians, a sufficient number of potential patients, and a
financial calculation for
self-sustainability.”[102]
In BiH, there are 15 prosthetic centers, distributed across the Federation
and Republika Srpska, where landmine amputees can receive assistance. The
average distance between amputees and a limb-fitting center is 100-150
kilometers.[103] Since 2001, all
the centers use imported prostheses components of very good quality from Otto
Bock, one of the leading producers of orthopedic material in the world. The
company has an office in Sarajevo, and according to LSN, about 60 percent of
amputees are satisfied with the quality of their prosthesis. Only one workshop
in Ilidza is producing wheelchairs. Crutches and special pressure-support
pillows have to be imported from
abroad.[104]
The War Victims Rehabilitation Project also included a component for the
supply, production and maintenance of quality prostheses and orthoses. However,
one of the centers supported by the project, the Tuzla Prosthetics Centre, has
now stopped production.[105]
Nevertheless, a study conducted in July and August 2001 suggested that with
adequate resources, good quality prostheses can be fitted by competent
prosthetists in a reasonable period of
time.[106]
The ITF provided US$656,850 for mine victim assistance in BiH in
2001.[107] This represents about
2.3 percent of the total ITF funding for 2001. Donors included Austria, Canada,
Denmark, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and the US. During the year, 44 mine survivors
from BiH were treated at the Slovenian Rehabilitation Institute. The ITF also
organized rehabilitation holidays, in June 2001, for 15 child mine survivors
from BiH, at the Youth Health Resort at Debelirtic on the Slovenian
coast.[108]
Five international organizations continue to provide specific assistance to
mine survivors in BiH: the ICRC, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Jesuit
Refugee Service (JRS), Landmine Survivors Network (LSN) and Queen’s
University.
The ICRC provides assistance through the Red Cross network in BiH.
Information collected on mine/UXO casualties is often used by potential donors
and project implementers to make direct connections with qualified mine
survivors to run their projects in a
region.[109]
In mid-2001, a donation from the Japanese Red Cross enabled assistance to be
given to mine survivors with the greatest need in RS. The precise needs of the
mine survivors were identified by mine awareness instructors and assistance
provided through the Red Cross network. Twenty-eight people benefited from this
ad hoc assistance that helped them to be more self-sufficient; for example,
assistance included house repairs, provision of farm animals, five amputees
received prostheses, and 1,400 socks for stump protection were
distributed.[110]
In another project, through contact between the ICRC and representatives from
Whittier College, California, and an American Red Cross branch around 1,000
“friendship boxes” were distributed to child mine survivors in
BiH.[111]
The JRS in BiH is running two programs: a mine survivors assistance program
for children, and another program for elderly mine survivors. The program for
children provides medical assistance, rehabilitation, material, psychosocial and
legal support. Based in Sarajevo, the program assists child mine survivors all
over BiH. In 2001, 173 children benefited from the program which included 916
home visits, 34 prostheses, and a summer camp for 27 children. The program for
elderly mine survivors, covers the Sarajevo canton, Middle Bosnia, Una Sana and
Banja Luka Region, assisted 32 people in 2001 by providing medicines, prostheses
and rehabilitation assistance. The programs are funded by RENOVABIS (Germany),
CORDAID and JRS.[112]
There are no State-run programs for vocational rehabilitation; such programs
are implemented through NGOs working with persons with disabilities. The
International Rescue Committee (IRC) runs a vocational training program in Banja
Luka, and organizes seminars for mine survivors. In Mostar, the IRC is
assisting mine survivors with prostheses, supporting sporting programs for
persons with disabilities, and the running of small
businesses.[113]
In 2001, LSN continued its work with community-based outreach workers, who
are also amputees, to assist individual survivors. The program, which works in
11 different mine-affected regions in BiH, is expanding to new areas next year.
The program assesses survivors’ needs, offers psychological and social
support, and educates families about the effects of limb loss. LSN links
individual survivors and their families to existing services and tracks progress
toward recovery and reintegration. LSN also provides direct material support to
survivors through covering the cost of prostheses, vocational training, house
repairs or emergency food aid, if necessary. LSN publishes a national directory
of organizations used in linking survivors to rehabilitative services in BiH.
The directory is also available on the
Internet.[114] LSN works closely
with survivors, and local and international organizations to protect the human
rights of all persons with disabilities, and to promote equal access to
community activities, education, employment and physical recreation, such as
hosting annual sitting volleyball and sitting basketball tournaments. In 2001,
1000 people received assistance, of which about 90 percent were mine
survivors.[115]
Through the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, military mine survivors have the
right of a free prosthesis every third year, free health care and insurance,
free treatment in special rehabilitation centers, and receive compensation for
their disability.[116] However,
civilian mine survivors must pay for their own health care or insurance, and
receive much lower, and more irregular, compensation for their injuries.
Civilians must pay a part of the total cost of their prosthesis which can cost
between 3,000 and 5,000 KM ($2,381). In FBiH, civilians pay 15 percent of the
total cost, whereas in RS, it is 10 percent. In Una-Sana canton, prostheses are
free for civilians, and in Central Bosnia canton the price is fixed at 1,000 KM
($47). In Tuzla canton, civilian mine survivors must pay 100 percent of the
total cost.[117] The costs are
prohibitive for many in a country where the average wage is $880 per
year.[118]
Although detailed statistics are not available, it would appear that a
significant number of survivors have been blinded by landmines. For example, 57
survivors are registered with the Banja Luka Association for the Blind.
However, little is being done to address the needs of blind survivors. It has
been reported that there are only two guide dogs in
BiH.[119]
Sixty-one NGOs, including local associations, assist persons with
disabilities in BiH.[120] For
example, in the FBiH, there are 18 sitting volley-ball clubs in two divisions (I
– 10 clubs and II – eight clubs). In RS, there are six sitting
volley-ball clubs competing in tournaments. In August 2001, BiH were European
Champions in sitting volley-ball for men, for the second time. FBiH has seven
men’s wheelchair basketball clubs and one women’s club and in RS,
there are two men’s clubs. FBiH also has three athletic clubs for
persons with disabilities and several small football
clubs.[121]
According to the LSN database, around 200 mine/UXO survivors, out of 897, do
not need any support (i.e., 22 percent are psychologically and physically well,
and self sustainable). The other 78 percent of survivors registered in the
database need continuous follow-up and
support.[122]
DISABILITY POLICY AND PRACTICE
Three State laws regulate the rights of persons
with disabilities.[123] In the
FBiH, once a law has been adopted at entity level the cantons must then adopt
their own laws; therefore the situation varies from canton to canton. Only
Tuzla canton, Bihac canton, and Central Bosnia canton have developed such laws.
The reason for the delay is that State law considers that centers for social
welfare should take care of persons with disabilities, including payment for
having a disability. But the status and funding of these centers has not been
clearly defined, with the result that disability pensions have not been paid for
one or more years. In RS, which does not have the cantonal system, there is a
delay of four months in paying disability
pensions.[124] LSN, and some mine
survivors, are urging the centers for social welfare to do more with regard to
supporting civilian mine survivors. However, the Centers claim that they have
many categories of clients to take care of and too few resources to deal with
them all.[125]
[1] Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) consists of
two “Entities,” the Federation of BiH (FBiH) and Republika Srpska
(RS). [2] Article 7 Report, Form A, 20 May
2002. [3] Interview with Dragisa Stankovic
and Franjo Markota, members of the Demining Commission, Sarajevo,
31 January 2002. In its April 2002 report to the OSCE, BiH said, “It
is expected that the Ministry for Civil Affairs and Communications will finalize
a draft Law in a near future.”
[4] Interview with Zoran Grujic,
Assistant Director of Information, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 13 December
2001. [5] Article 7 Report, Form A, 20 May
2002. [6] “The High Representative
Appeals for Urgent Passage of State/Level Demining Legislation,” Press
Release, Office of the High Representative, Sarajevo, 5
February 2002. [7] This Article 7
Report covers the period from January 1996 to 30 April 2002. BiH’s
initial Article 7 Report was submitted on 1 February 2000, for the period 8
March 1999 to 1 February 2000, and its second Article 7 Report was submitted on
1 September 2001, for the period January 1996 to 1 September
2001. [8] Telephone interview with Amira
Aripovic, Department for Peace and Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Sarajevo, 30 April 2002. [9] Article 7
Report, Form E, 1 February 2000. For details of past production, see Landmine
Monitor Report 1999, pp. 553-554. [10]
Article 7 Reports, Form E, 1 September 2001 and 20 May
2002. [11] Interview with Dragisa
Stankovic and Franjo Markota, members of the Demining Commission, Sarajevo,
31 January 2002. [12] Letter from
Brig. Haso Ribo, Federation Ministry of Defense, 21 April 2000.
[13] Interview with Jusuf Hubjer,
Director, Unis-Ginex, Gorazde, 25 January
2002. [14] Article 7 Report, Form G.1, 1
February 2000. See also Landmine Monitor Report 2000, pp.
590-591. [15] Article 7 Reports, Forms F,
1 September 2001 and 20 May 2002. [16]
However, the subtotals reported for each type of mine add up to 2,145. Article
7 Report, Form D, February 2000. [17]
Article 7 Reports, Forms D, February 2000, 1 September 2001 and 20 May
2002. [18] Interview with Zoran Grujic,
Assistant Director of Information, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 13 December 2001. He
explained the first Article 7 Report was written by a technical advisor to the
previous Demining Commission. When a BHMAC official prepared the later Article
7 Reports, the records of the previous Commission were not made
available. [19] Interview with Zoran
Grujic, Assistant Information Director, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 13 December 2001;
email from Bojan Vukovic, Mine Risk Education Officer, RSMAC, 29 January
2002. [20] “Daily Media Monitoring
Summary, Wednesday, 20 February 2002,” UN Mission in
BiH. [21]
Ibid. [22] “More Illegal Weapons
Found,” Kathimerini (Greek newespaper, English-language internet edition),
31 October 2001; “Bosnia: Monthly Report to the United Nations on the
Operations of the Stabilization Force,” UN Security Council, 4 January
2002, www.reliefweb.int, accessed on 18 February 2002.
[23] “NATO Finds Illegal Munitions
in Southeastern Bosnia,” Kathimerini (Greek newespaper, English-language
internet edition), 14 March 2002; “Crates of Mines, Other Explosives Found
in Bosnia;” European Stars and Stripes, 20 April
2002. [24] “Bosnians Hand in More
Weapons to Collection Program,” Kathimerini (English-language Greek
newspaper, internet edition), 17 July
2002. [25] For a full description of the
landmine problem, see “Mine Situation in BiH,” www.bhmac.org, and
“The Mine Problem,”
www.bhmac.org/fed/opis.htm. [26] BHMAC,
“BHMAC Mine Action 2002,” January 2002, p.
2. [27] Article 7 Report, Form C, 20 April
2002; BHMAC database www.bhmac.org/bhmac/info/statistics/statistics_e.htm,
accessed on 4 January 2002. The estimate of one million mines is based upon
307,000 records in the BHMAC database of mines planted by the Entity Armies. It
is estimated the Armies laid 700,000 mines and an estimated 300,000 mines were
laid by civilians without any reporting. “BHMAC Mine Action 2002,”
January 2002. [28] Interview with Zoran
Grujic, Assistant Director of Information, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 21 February
2002. [29] Article 7 Reports, Forms C, 1
February 2000, 1 September 2001, and 20 May 2002; interview with Filip
Filopovic, Director, BHMAC, 8 March
2001. [30] Interview with Ahdin Orahovic,
Director, Federation MAC, Sarajevo,
12 March 2002. [31] “BiH
Clearance-Survey Data: Surveyed Area 2001 Correct at 01 January 2002,”
www.bhmac.org/bhmac/info/statistics/ accessed 19 February 2002;
interview with Zoran Grujic, Assistant Director of Information, BHMAC 15
February 2002. See also Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p.
634. [32] “BiH Clearance-Survey
Data: Surveyed Area 2000;” interview with Zoran Grujic, Assistant Director
of Information, BHMAC, 13 December
2001. [33] Interview with Zoran Grujic,
Assistant Director of Information, BHMAC, Sarajesvo, 4 June
2002. [34] “Report for the Year
2001. FMAC, Sarajevo, January 2002,” pp. 3, 13-14, provided by Ahdin
Orahovac, Director, Federation Mine Action Center,
12 March 2002. [35] Interview
with David Rowe, Program Manager and Strategic Advisor, BHMAC, Sarajevo,
13 February 2002. The report is available at www.gichd.ch. See also
Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 636. [36]
Interview with Zoran Grujic, Assistant Director of Information, BHMAC, Sarajevo,
12 April 2002. [37] “United States
Statement on Demining Funding,” Board of Donors, Sarajevo, 20 March
2002, document provided by Alan Carlson, Second Secretary, US Embassy,
Sarajevo. [38] Email from Survey Action
Center to Landmine Monitor (HRW), 30 July
2002. [39] Demining Law of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, published in the Official Gazette, number 5, year vi, on 12 March
2002. [40]
Ibid. [41] Exchange rates at 29 April
2002: €1 = US$ 0.898, and at 1 April 2002: US$1 = KM2.1, used throughout.
[42] “Demining Strategy Plan for
Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Year of 2010, Draft,” document provided by
Ahdin Orahovac, Director, Federation MAC, Sarajevo,
22 March 2002. [43] Interview
with Zoran Grujic, Assistant Director of Information, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 4 June
2002. [44] For details of the structure in
2001of BiH and Entity Mine Action Centers, see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, pp.
626-628. [45] “BHMAC Mine Action
2002,” January 2002. [46]
“Multi-year Recipient Report: Bosnia and Herzegovina,” UN Mine
Action Service Mine Investments database, www.mineaction.org, accessed on 26
July 2002. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) reports
Canadian funding to total Can$1,708,643 ($1,106,159) in 2001 (email from Lisanne
Garceau-Bedner, CIDA, to Landmine Monitor, 20 June
2002). [47] The High Representative in
October 2000 dismissed three members of the Demining Commission on charges of
corruption and abuse of authority, dissolved the Commission and reconstituted it
with new members. [48] Statement by Henrik
Kolstrup, UNDP Resident Representative, at the Mine Action Program of BiH Board
of Donors meeting, Sarajevo, 12 March 2001, and on 29 March 2001 at a briefing
session in New York: see UN press release, 30 March 2001,
www.un.org/News/dh/latest/page2.html. [49]
Interview with Jusuf Tanovic, Program Officer, Mine Action Program, UNDP,
Sarajevo, 16 January 2002. For details of the UNDP Trust Fund for
Mine Clearance in BiH, see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, pp.
631-632. [50] Email from Jusuf Tanovic,
Program Officer, Mine Action Program, UNDP,
15 February 2002. [51] Email
from Eva Veble, ITF, 12 March
2002. [52] “Plan of ITF Activities
for the Year 2002,” Newsletter No. 8, ITF, April 2002, p.
5. [53] “Annual Report 2001,”
ITF, p. 19; email from Eva Veble, ITF, to Landmine Monitor, 5 June 2002.
[54] Email from Alan Carlson, Second
Secretary, US Embassy, Sarajevo, 20 March
2002. [55] “United States Statement
on Demining Funding,” Board of Donors meeting, Sarajevo, 20 March
2002. [56] Email from Lisanne
Garceau-Bedner, Canadian International Development Agency, to Landmine Monitor,
20 June 2002 (US$ equivalents as supplied by CIDA); CIDA website:
www.acdi-cida.gc.ca, accessed on 27 March 2002; email from Emil Baran, Canadian
Embassy, Sarajevo, 21 March 2002. [57]
“Italy 2001 Mine Clearance, Rehabilitation and Victim Assistance
Programs,” document distributed at the intersessional Standing Committee
meetings, Geneva, February 2002; email from Stefano Calabretta, Intersos, 13
June 2002. [58] Email from Marie Louise
Teige, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway, 23 January 2002. Exchange
rate at 29 April 2002: NOK 1 = US$ 0.119, used
throughout. [59] Email from Judith
Majlath, Austrian Aid for Mine Victims, 8 March 2002. Exchange rate
at 29 April 2002: ATS 1 = US$ 0.0655, used
throughout. [60] BHMAC, “BiH
Clearance–Survey Data 2001 Correct at 01 January 2002,”
www.bhmac.org, accessed on 20 February 2002.
[61] Interview with Filip Filipovic,
Director of BHMAC, Sarajevo, 8 March
2001. [62] Interview with Dragisa
Stankovic, member of the Demining Commission, Sarajevo,
8 February 2002. [63] BHMAC,
“Clearance–Survey Data 2001 Correct at 01 January 2002;”
list of accredited organizations available on
www.bhmac.org/bhmac/coordination/documents, accessed on 4 January
2002. [64] BHMAC, “Clearance-Survey
Data 2001.” For comparison, see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 637;
some categories of land-use have
changed. [65] “Federal Report for
the year 2001,” Federal Mine Action Centre, Sarajevo, January 2002, and
“Federal Report for 2000,” Federal Mine Action Centre, January
2001. [66] Federal Mine Action Centre
Bulletin, January – September 2001, p.3, and “Demining Operations
Review for the Area of the Federation and D.C. Brcko of BiH in 2001,”
available at www.bhmac.org/fed/s12.htm, accessed on 4 March
2002. [67] “Demining Operations
Review for the Area of the Federation and D.C. Brcko of BiH in 2001,”
available at www.bhmac.org/fed/s12.htm, accessed on 4 March 2002;
“Report for 2000 FMAC, Sarajevo January 2001,” document provided by
Ahdin Orahovac, Director, Federation Mine Action Center, Sarajevo, 12 March
2002. [68] Email from Bobella Stevkovic,
Information Officer, RSMAC, Banja Luka, 3 June
2002. [69]
Ibid. [70] “Demining Operations
Review for the Area of the Federation and D.C. Brcko of BiH in 2001;”
“Report for 2000 FMAC, Sarajevo January
2001.” [71] “Annual Report
2001,” ITF, p. 24. [72] Email from
Eva Veble, Head of International Relations, ITF, 12 March
2002. [73] NPA, “Bosnia and
Herzegovina,” Humanitarian Mine Action 2002
(undated). [74] Email from Stefano
Calabretta, Intersos, 13 June 2002. [75]
Email from CIDC to Landmine Monitor (HRW), 30 July
2002. [76] Interview with Nermin
Hadzimujagic, Assistant Director of Coordination, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 5 March
2002. [77] “The Mine Awareness
Structure in Bih – Status And Problems,” BHMAC, FMAC and RSMAC
Report on Mine Awareness Course, pp. 4-5, July 2001, provided by Nermin
Hadzimujagic, Assistant Director of Coordination, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 5 March
2002. [78]
Ibid. [79] Interviews with Vanja
Bojinovic, Mine Awareness Coordinator, ICRC, Sarajevo, 2 April 2001 and 26
February 2002. [80] Email from Bojan
Vukovic, Mine Risk Education Officer, RSMAC, 29 January
2002. [81] Interview with Ahdin Orahovac,
Director of FMAC, Sarajevo,
25 February 2002. [82]
“Mine Injuries in Children. Plan of Action 2002-2004,” UNICEF,
provided by Berina Arslanagic and Helena Eversole, assistant representatives,
UNICEF, Sarajevo, March 2002. [83]
“Mine Injury Prevention in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” UNICEF,
(undated), available at www.mineaction.org, accessed on 1 July
2002. [84] Email from Pascal Cuttat, Head
of ICRC in BiH, 7 February 2002 and meetings with Vanja Bojinovic, Mine Risk
Education Coordinator, ICRC, Sarajevo, 26 February 2002.
[85] Emails from Jusuf Tanovic, Program
Officer, Mine Action Program, UNDP, Sarajevo, 15 and 20 February 2002. See
also Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p.
645. [86] Interview with Ahdin Orahovac,
Director, Federation Mine Action Centre, Sarajevo, 25 February
2002. [87] 2001 casualty figures from:
email to Landmine Monitor from Vanja Bojinovic, ICRC Mine Awareness Coordinator
for BiH, Sarajevo, 14 May 2002; April 2001 incident from: “Mine Blast
Kills French Soldier,” The Independent (British daily newspaper), 5 April
2001. [88] Email to Landmine Monitor from
Vanja Bojinovic, ICRC Mine Awareness Coordinator for BiH, Sarajevo, 14 May
2002. [89]
Ibid. [90] For example, in the Landmine
Monitor Report 2001 reported casualties in 2000 were 32 killed and 60 injured.
The ICRC database now registers 35 killed and 65 injured in 2000. Interview
with Vanja Bojinovic, ICRC Mine Awareness Coordinator for BiH, Sarajevo, 26
February 2002. [91] Email to Landmine
Monitor from Vanja Bojinovic, ICRC Mine Awareness Coordinator for BiH, Sarajevo,
14 May 2002. [92] “Statistics on
Mine/UXO Victims,” in: Bosnia and Herzegoviona: ICRC Community-based
Mine/Unexploded Ordnance Awareness Programme, International Committee of the Red
Cross, 22 May 2002. [93] Email to Landmine
Monitor from Vanja Bojinovic, ICRC Mine Awareness Coordinator for BiH, Sarajevo,
14 May 2002. Data is updated to 10 May
2002. [94] Information provided in
confidence by several sources. [95] See
Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 649. [96]
Telephone interview with Dr Goran Cerkez, Federation Ministry of Health, 4
February 2002. [97] Telephone interview
with Vanja Bojinovic, ICRC Mine Awareness Coordinator for BiH, Sarajevo, 6 March
2002. [98] Email from Plamenko Priganica,
Director of Landmine Survivors Network in BiH, 25 January 2002. For more
details see Landmine Monitor Report 2000, pp.
603-604. [99] Email from Plamenko
Priganica, Director of Landmine Survivors Network in BiH, 25 January
2002. [100] “War Victims
Rehabilitation Project,” World Bank Reconstruction and Development Program
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Progress Update, May 2001, p.
41. [101] Telephone interview with Dr
Goran Cerkez, Federation Ministry of Health, 4 February
2002. [102] Letter from RS Ministry of
Health to Health Centre Trebinje, Document number 01-05-565/2001, 3 April
2001. [103] Final Report on the MOPS
Research Phase, EdaS (Elegant Design and Solutions), 9 October 2001, p.
8. [104] Email from Plamenko Priganica,
Director of Landmine Survivors Network in BiH, 25 January
2002. [105] Final Report on the MOPS
Research Phase, EdaS (Elegant Design and Solutions), 9 October 2001, p.
15. [106] Ibid., p.
9. [107] Email to Landmine Monitor from
Eva Veble, Head of Department for International Relations, ITF, 17 May
2002. [108] ITF, Annual Report 2001, p.
19. [109] Email from Plamenko Priganica,
Director of Landmine Survivors Network in BiH, 25 January
2002. [110] Interview with Vanja
Bojinovic, ICRC Mine Awareness Coordinator for BiH, 26 February
2002. [111] Email from Pascal Cuttat, Head
of ICRC in BiH, 7 February 2002 and meetings with Vanja Bojinovic, Mine
Awareness Coordinator, ICRC, Sarajevo, 26 February 2002.
[112] Interview with Przemek Miozga,
Program Director, Jesuit Refugee Service, Sarajevo, 8 March 2002; and responses
to Landmine Monitor Survivor Assistance Questionnaires, 22 February
2002. [113] Email from Plamenko Priganica,
Director of Landmine Survivors Network in BiH, 25 January
2002. [114]
www.lsndatabase.org. [115] Information
from Landmine Monitor Survivor Assistance Questionnaire, completed by Plamenko
Priganica, Director of Landmine Survivors Network in BiH, 11 March
2002. [116] Email from Plamenko Priganica,
Director of Landmine Survivors Network in BiH, 25 January
2002. [117]
Ibid. [118] Final Report on the MOPS
Research Phase, EdaS (Elegant Design and Solutions), 9 October 2001, p.
8. [119] Ibid., p.
11. [120] Interview with Dr Goran Cerkez,
Federation Ministry of Health, 20 March
2001. [121] Email from Plamenko Priganica,
Director of Landmine Survivors Network in BiH, 25 January
2002. [122]
Ibid. [123] For details see Landmine
Monitor Report 2000, p. 604. [124]
Interview with Plamenko Priganica, LSN BiH Director, Tuzla, 24 March
2001. [125] Meeting with Sacira Hidanovic,
Social Worker with LSN, Trebinje, 17 January 2002.
About Us
Our Research Products
