EIGHT PERSONS KILLED IN 2007 IN BOSNIA IN EOD ACTIVITIES

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 2,2008) – Total of 139,4 square kilometres of land or 75,6 per cent of the planned surface was cleared off mines in Bosnia in 2007. These are the data presented by representatives of of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit of the Bosnian Mine Action Centre (BHMAC).

The BHMAC presented in Sarajevo on Friday a report on explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) activities in 2007, as well as plans for the following year.

The current suspicious land is measured in 1.806 square kilometres at 13.077 locations and 220.000 mines and EOs.

Director of BHMAC Dusan Gavran stated that the number of deaths of teams members increased in 2007. Eight persons were killed. Four of them were EOD members.

22 persons were injured, four of them were EOD members. From 1992 to 2007, 4.953 victims of mines were registered.

As a part of the EOD plan for 2008, 183,48 square kilometres of land are to be cleared.

136,8 square kilometres of land will be treated.

Urgent marking of 136 square kilometres of land will be marked. 35 square kilometres of land will be marked permanently.