Croatia
Problem statement
According to data provided by the Croatian Mine Action Centre (CROMAC) a total area of 270 square kilometers of land is suspected to be contaminated by anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, cluster munitions remnants and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). Today, there are still mine suspected areas in 48 cities throughout 8 counties in Croatia. The entire mine suspected area on the territory of the Republic of Croatia is marked with more than 11,400 mine warning signs.
The Croatian Ministry of Defense (MOD) identified large quantities of unstable surplus weapons and munitions that need to be destroyed. Ammunition surplus represents physical and environmental hazard once it deteriorates. The Croatian MOD has limited capacities for the implementation of safe disposal of obsolete/unstable munitions in its inventory.
What we do
Clearance of landmines and ERW
Present in Croatia since 1999, ITF supports clearance of landmines and ERW through basic components of Croatian mine action program. ITF has so far cleared 32,182,466 square meters of mine suspected areas, destroying 6,505 mines and 2,398 UXO. The last demining/technical survey project in Croatia was conducted in 2017, when 39,800 square meters were cleared in Bila Vlaka, Klarići and Zadar County.
Physical Security and Stockpile Management
Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) in Croatia underwent a system upgrade process, aimed at improving conventional weapons and munitions stockpile security and management, which are operated by the Croatian Ministry of Defense. This included mostly surveillance equipment and other required procedures enhancing the security and safety of stockpiling.
Destruction of Surplus Weapons and Ammunition
The ongoing project of Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) was continued in 2017, in close cooperation with the Croatian Ministry of Defense. It is anticipated that 12,704 pieces of surplus and unstable weapons will be demilitarized by the end of the CWD project implementation, with 1,020 tons and 112,623 pieces of excess ammunition demilitarized and destroyed so far.
For more information on ITF’s past activities in Croatia, we welcome you to consult our Annual Reports.