Thursday, September 27, 2007

AUSTRIA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT DEMINING EFFORTS IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (27.September,2007) – Austria wishes to intensify cooperation with the Bosnian Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) in the future.austria is, after Germany,the second most important supporter of the demining process in Bosnia.

Austria plans to support BHMAC with 150.000 Euros next year, which will be used for the purchase of all-terrain vehicles for four reconnaissance teams, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) General Director Michael Linhart said yesterday during a visit to BHMAC.

“Bosnia and Austria have excellent cooperation in the demining sector and I think that Bosnia has expert and competent deminers. We support the return of people to their homes and demining significantly contributes to that process”, Linhart said.

BHMAC Director Dusan Gavran said that Austria has significantly supported demining operations in Bosnia with 850.000 Euros and added that Bosnia is in strong need of such assistance.

3,6 percent of Bosnia's territory or 1.820 square kilometres is contaminated with mines. Some 1 million mines and pieces of unexploded ordnance are still hiding at 11.000 locations.

36 accredited demining organisations are currently active in Bosnia. They have 3.000 trained deminer, 22 machines, 1.020 mine detectors and 85 specially trained dogs.

One person was killed and seven injured by mines in the first six months of this year.

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