20 October 2014
Press release issued by the BiH/UNDP mine action centre:
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s landmine contamination has continued to threaten the country’s safety years following the end of the war. The 2014 floods reminded the world of the issues that remnants of war can bring to post-conflict societies; the country remains the most mine contaminated in Europe and among ten the most contaminated in the world.
On 16 October 2014 at the UN House in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) cooperatively organised a round-table event along with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that features international experts from UNDP, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and the Implementation Support Unit of the AP Mine Ban Treaty. In a knowledge-sharing session attended by key national and international partners, the experts from the specialized fields shared know-how on land release methods for improving the rate of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s mine clearance. BHMAC and its international partners presented the benefits of the land release and their recent activities in piloting the use of these new methodologies within the EU-funded Land Release project and the latest progress being made to fulfil their Ottawa Treaty obligations.
Mr. Milan Rezo, BHMAC Director, a.i. underlined the importance of the land release standard and transparent management of the mine action activities. He presented good practices of BHMAC and stated that BHMAC works for the improved safety of population in the country.
“We are very eager to offer UNDP’s expertise to the national mine action authorities that would enable progress in this area. The application of the contemporary mine action standards such as the land release are the solution for the progress and we are thankful for having the GICHD with us in promoting this idea.” said Jasmin Porobic, UNDP’s Human Security Programme Manager.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s presence at the 3rd Review Conference of the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Treaty, in Maputo of June this year, highlighted the need for a change in approach to mine clearance; one that is thoroughly up to date with the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and puts the most efficient mine action techniques into practice. Those practices will improve cost-effectiveness of the mine action and will release the land to communities at the expeditious manner. It will improve livelihoods and will offer opportunities for the economic growth.
Category: Operations Management