Land mines in Bosnia and Herzegovina

During this time period, all 3 conflicting factions (ARBiH, HVO, and VRS) planted land mines near the current-day political entity borders.

Although landmine removal efforts have made progress throughout the country and the landmine-related deaths have steadily decreased each year, many people are still killed or suffer injuries caused by unexploded munitions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Over 60 per cent of the population live in rural areas and are dependent on access to land for agriculture, livestock grazing, hunting, and gathering wood and herbs.

[2] The next year, in May 2014, extensive landslides and the worst flooding since the 19th century unearthed landmines, prompting authorities to send in de-mining workers to locate and deactivate mines that were threatening residential areas which had already been deemed cleared.

[6] According to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre, the landmine contamination problem impacts over 538,000 people in over 1,400 communities (around 15% of the population).

[7][8] Mine Free Sarajevo officially closed on 1 September 2021 and the area is now completely mine-free and therefore significantly safer for locals and tourists.

In addition, several crucial economic opportunities, such as further development of important agricultural land and infrastructure projects can resume.