Dogs trained in Sarajevo on a mission to clear Ukraine's mines
In the suburbs of Sarajevo, in the Butmir district, dogs have been trained to detect mines since 2004. The centre has already sent 26 dogs to Ukraine, the most mined country in the world.
The Norwegian Training Centre for Mine and Explosive Detection Dogs, located in Sarajevo, has trained over 500 dogs since 2004. These specially trained animals aid in clearing mines in conflict zones around the globe, including Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and Iraq.
Recently, 26 dogs were sent to Ukraine. According to the UN and the Ukrainian government, it's the most heavily mined country worldwide.
Dogs in Ukraine
Dogs from Sarajevo have been supporting Ukrainian sappers since the beginning of the Russian invasion. They operate in regions such as Kharkiv in the east and Mykolaiv in the south of Ukraine. Trainer Kenan Muftic told Reuters that in some areas, they operate in very close proximity to the front line.
Minefields and unexploded ordnance in Ukraine make large agricultural areas inaccessible, restricting the country's exports and tax revenues. This presents a significant challenge for Ukraine's economy, which is already struggling with the consequences of the armed conflict.
Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to the Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) data, there are currently about 170,000 mines and other explosive devices that remain from the war of 1992-1995.
The first data from 1998 indicated that 8.2% of BiH's territory was covered in mines. That figure has now reduced to 1.6%. During the war, 6,690 people were killed, and since the war, 624 people have lost their lives due to mines and explosive materials.
