Land mine contamination in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Land mine contamination in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a serious after effect of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina which raged from 1992 until 1995. All combatants laid land mines during the war and as a result Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the most severe land mine problems in the world.

Land mine situation
Bosnia and Herzegovina's contamination with land mines stems exclusively from the 1992-1995 war in the country. By 1996, some two million land mines and unexploded munitions littered Bosnia. By the end of 2008 some 220,000 land mines and unexploded munitions remained scattered in 13,077 locations. A total of 1,755 km² (3,4% of the country's territory) is mined.

Land mine clearing is done by various government agencies and NGO's as well as some NATO military units. Bosnia and Herzegovina's strategic vision is to clear all land mines by the year 2019.

Land mine casualties
From 1992 through 2008 5,005 people were killed or injured by land mines or unexploded munitions. War time casualties stood at 3,339 killed and injured. Peacetime casualties, from 1996 through 2008 number 1,666 of which 486 persons were fatalities.