Minefields in Croatia
These areas are thought to contain approximately 17,285[1] land mines, in addition to unexploded ordnance left over from the Croatian War of Independence.
They were intended to strengthen defensive positions lacking sufficient weapons or manpower, but played a limited role in the fighting.
Croatia has spent approximately €450 million on demining since 1998, when the process was taken over by private contractors coordinated by the Croatian Mine Action Centre.
In 1990, following the electoral defeat of the Communist regime in Croatia by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), ethnic tensions between Croats and Serbs worsened.
After the elections, the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) confiscated Croatia's Territorial Defence weapons to minimize potential resistance.
[3] The revolt centred on the predominantly Serb-populated areas of the Dalmatian hinterland around the city of Knin,[4] parts of the Lika, Kordun and Banovina regions and eastern Croatian settlements with a significant Serb population.
The RSK declared its intention to join Serbia, and as a result came to be viewed by the Government of Croatia as a breakaway region.
[8] By January 1992, the RSK held 17,028 square kilometres (6,575 sq mi) of territory within borders claimed by Croatia.
Consequently, the ARSK constructed static defensive lines (consisting of trenches, bunkers and large numbers of mines designed to protect thinly-manned defences) to delay HV offensives.
[12] The combination of poor documentation of minefield locations and the lack of markings (or fencing) led to frequent injuries to military personnel caused by mines laid by friendly forces.
These areas are thought to contain approximately c.10,052 land mines, in addition to unexploded ordnance left over from the Croatian War of Independence.
Some drainage channels are consequently inaccessible for maintenance, resulting in intermittent flooding; this is particularly severe in areas bordering Hungary.
[34] Other safety-related areas receiving demining priority are settlements, commercial and industrial facilities and all documented minefields.
[39][40] As refugees flee to Europe, from Syria and other Middle Eastern nations, some are migrating through Croatia due to Hungary's recent closing of its borders.
Croatia has implemented a mine-awareness educational program aimed at reducing the frequency of mine-related accidents through an ongoing information campaign.
The Ministry of Tourism and the CNTB welcomed the effort's humanitarian aspect, but considered the signs a potential source of unwarranted negative reaction from tourists.
[43] Tourist guidebooks of Croatia include warnings about the danger posed by mines in the country, and provide general information about their location.
Wartime demining was focused on clearance tasks in support of military operations and the safety of the civilian population.
[50] In 2011, an estimated further €500 million (or more) was needed to remove all remaining land mines from Croatia by 2019,[53] the deadline for land-mine clearance set by the Ottawa Treaty.
[55] On July 28, 2022, the Croatian government submitted to the Parliament the Proposal for the National Mine Action Program until 2026, which defines the demining strategy for mine-suspected areas and the deadline for completion by county.
