Dogs trained in Sarajevo take on Ukraine's mine challenge
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, considered the most heavily 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 assist in clearing mines in conflict zones globally, including Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and Iraq.
Recently, 26 dogs were sent to Ukraine, which, according to the UN and the government in Kyiv, is the most heavily mined country in the world.
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 render large agricultural areas inaccessible, limiting exports and the country's tax revenue. This presents a significant challenge for Ukraine's economy, which is struggling with the repercussions of armed conflict.
Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
According to the Mine Removal Centre (BHMAC), there are currently about 77,000 mines and other explosive devices remaining from the 1992-95 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Initial data from 1998 indicated that 8.2% of Bosnia and Herzegovina's territory was covered with mines, but currently, it is 1.6%. During the war, 6,690 people died, and post-war, 624 people have lost their lives due to mines and explosive materials.
