Sarajevo-trained dogs help demine world's most dangerous fields
In the suburbs of Sarajevo, specifically in the Butmir district, dogs have been trained to detect mines since 2004. The center has already sent 26 dogs to Ukraine, which is considered the most mined country in the world.
The Norwegian Training Center for Mine Detection Dogs and Explosives, located in Sarajevo, has trained over 500 dogs since 2004. These specially trained canines assist in clearing areas in conflict zones globally, including places like Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and Iraq.
Recently, 26 dogs were deployed to Ukraine, which, according to the UN and the Ukrainian government, is the most mined country in the world.
Dogs in Ukraine
Dogs from Sarajevo have supported Ukrainian sappers since the start of the Russian invasion. They operate in regions such as Kharkiv in the east and Mykolaiv in the south of Ukraine. Trainer Kenan Muftic said to Reuters that in some places, they operate really very close to the front line
Minefields and unexploded ordnance in Ukraine render large agricultural areas inaccessible, limiting the country's exports and tax revenues. This poses a significant challenge to Ukraine's economy, which is already grappling with the consequences of the armed conflict.
Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to the Mine Action Center (BHMAC), there are currently approximately 170,000 mines and other explosive devices remaining from the war between 1992 and 1995.
Initial data from 1998 indicated that 8.2 percent of Bosnia and Herzegovina was covered with mines. Currently, this percentage has been reduced to 1.6 percent. During the wartime, 6,690 people were killed, and after the war, 624 people have lost their lives due to mines and explosive materials.
