Bosnia and Herzegovina: Stories From the Field

The village of Cifluk is 13 km southeast of the center of Visoko in the Zenicko-Dobojki region of Bosnia. Situated in between the confrontation lines of opposing armies during the Bosnian war, this area became subject to dense mining activity from both sides.

Clearing this village of landmines became a priority for reasons of safety, repatriation, and the renovation of devastated social structures such as houses and the village school. Children from five villages used to attend the school in Čifluk before the war. However, since the war’s end many children have to walk more than 6 km every day to the neighboring school in the village of Buci . Because their walk to school takes them through the minefield area each day, their lives and health are constantly at risk.

Before mine clearance had taken place there had been two mine related injuries in the village. The first involved a thirteen year old boy who stepped on a mine and injured both of his legs. The second situation occurred when a sheep activated a mine.

Today, the land around the old school is cleared and the people of the village no longer need to worry about their safety on a daily basis. Children can walk by the cleared area freely on their way to school. Inhabitants of the village of Čifluk whose households are adjacent to the cleared area are particularly glad that area is now cleared. Their children can play freely around the house and take walk by the once mine contaminated brook as well.

Demining this location was very significant for the repatriation and overall safety the village. Clearance has allowed the reconstruction of houses and the local school to begin and the people look forward to the overall restoration of the area.

Although mine clearance is a slow process that is sometimes difficult to explain to people, when it takes place the people who it affects are glad and grateful. Furthermore, and most important of all, they don’t feel forgotten.