10 million sqm of land in BiH cleared of mines with EU support
Of this amount, 9.15 million euros are dedicated specifically to demining and land release activities carried out under the project EU Support to Land Release on Targeted Mine Suspected Areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the remaining funds were used to strengthen capacities of mine action institutions.
The large-scale mine clearance operations performed by ITF Enhancing Human Security started in August 2025. The project focused on removing landmines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive remnants of war, restoring safe access to land that has remained hazardous for decades and enabling sustainable community development.
In Pale, 1,055,730 square metres of mountainous forest and agricultural land are being released for safe use. In Ključ, operations cover 2,131,758 square metres of forested and rural terrain vital for farming, forestry and hunting. In Teslić, 1,886,451 square metres of meadows, woodland and agricultural land are being cleared, allowing residents to safely return to everyday economic activities.
For years, these areas have remained underused or inaccessible due to the deadly threat of mines. Families were unable to fully cultivate land, graze livestock, collect firewood or make use of forest resources that are essential for household income and local livelihoods. Clearing this land restores not only safety, but opportunity and dignity.
In Hadžići, 1,651,584 square metres are being released, including routes towards Igman Mountain that are important for grazing, small-scale farming and recreation. In Ilijaš, 2,261,912 square metres of high forests, meadows and mountain trails are being cleared, improving safe access for residents, forestry workers and visitors. In Drvar, 1,024,588 square metres of forested hills, farmland and areas surrounding historical and cultural landmarks – including the remnants of Visućgrad and old churches – are being made safe, creating conditions for sustainable tourism and renewed local development.
EU support also reinforces the operational capacity of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) and Civil Protection Administrations. Nineteen off-road vehicles have been delivered, alongside protective equipment, metal detectors, GPS systems, drones and other tools necessary to conduct safe and efficient operations in challenging terrain.
The European Union’s support extends beyond this project. The overall ten million euro assistance package includes complementary institutional support, as well as a separate ten million euro assistance measure for the demining battalion of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina financed through the European Peace Facility. Close cooperation with EUFOR further strengthens efforts through mentoring, mine risk education, and monitoring and quality control of demining operations.
Together, these coordinated efforts are not only removing explosive threats from the ground — they are restoring livelihoods, strengthening local economies, enabling tourism, improving infrastructure access and reaffirming that the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina have not been forgotten. The ultimate goal remains clear: safe land, resilient communities and a mine-free future for Bosnia and Herzegovina.