News

The 24th edition of the international sitting volleyball tournament Sarajevo Open was held from May 31 to June 1, 2025, bringing together eight teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, and Poland.

The annual key gathering of mine action stakeholders underscored the need for localization, holistic approaches, and adaptable funding solutions.

Long after the fighting, landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to threaten lives in Syria, blocking access to homes, schools, and farmland. Without urgent action, the danger will persist for decades.

Dr. Aleš Musar joined ITF Director in Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to observe the support provided to landmine victims and the positive outcomes of ITF's victim assistance initiatives.

One of the Faces of ITF, a longstanding advocate for mental health and victim assistance, Dr. Anica Mikuš Kos, was honored with the Presidential Medal of Merits for her decades of humanitarian work in Kosovo*.

This week, Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon visited Lebanon, reaffirming Slovenia’s long-standing support for ITF led humanitarian aid and mine action initiatives in Lebanon since 2021.

In Northeast Syria, ITF mine action project funded by France and Slovenia has successfully reduced contamination. With political transition taking place, continued support for humanitarian mine action remains vital for recovery.

ITF and the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs reviewed progress in mine action initiatives in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, highlighting significant achievements and the importance of joined efforts.

At the 5th Review Conference in Cambodia, ITF joined global partners to address gender equality, environment sustainability, and the rising threat of improvised mines, stressing the need for united action in mine clearance and victim assistance.

The 53rd ITF BoA session brought together key stakeholders and donors to discuss shared priorities, focusing on victim assistance and mine action in Ukraine.

At this year’s Slovenian Development Days ITF reaffirmed its commitment to integrating mine action into broader efforts for sustainable development and food security through partnerships and discussions held throughout the week.

In October 2024, trainers from the NGO Zhiva-Ya visited Slovenia to enhance their skills in delivering essential psychosocial support to children in the Izmail region, who are affected by the ongoing war on Ukraine.

With U.S. support, ITF delivers rehabilitation and psychosocial aid in Khak-e-Jabar, Afghanistan. A recent visit highlighted both successes and ongoing challenges in assisting conflict-affected individuals.

On 9 September 2024, dr. Musar visited Izmail, Ukraine, where he met children, parents, teachers, and volunteers participating in ITF psychosocial assistance project, offering crucial support to children deeply affected by the ongoing war on Ukraine.

ITF’s monitoring visit to the Superhumans Medical Rehabilitation Center in Lviv, Ukraine, underscores Slovenia’s contribution to improving the lives of war victims through advanced rehabilitation services.

ITF participated in the Regional Conference on Advancing Victim Assistance and Cooperation, a key event ahead of the Siem Reap-Angkor Summit on a Mine-Free World. The conference gathered global leaders and experts to further support for mine victims.

A recent project, supported by Slovenian MFEA, provided the Ukrainian women's sitting volleyball team with a secure training environment, supporting their physical and emotional recovery amidst the ongoing conflict in their homeland.

The Slovenian MFEA has extended crucial support for demining efforts of mine and ERW contaminated land clearance in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, ensuring continuation of work through 2024 and 2025.

ITF, in partnership with local and international stakeholders, continues its work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on mine clearance and technical surveys across multiple municipalities.

On World Bee Day, ITF was honored with the Golden Bee Award from the Republic of Slovenia for its beekeeping project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, empowering landmine survivors while supporting biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.