地雷除去フィールド視察

On July 19, 2017, Ambassador of Japan to BiH, Kazuya Ogawa, participated in a field visit organized by ITF for “The Project for Support of Demining in Ilijas and Busovaca”, in Ilijas Municipality located in the southern east part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Alongside Ambassador Ogawa, BHMAC representative, Mayor of Ilijas Municipality and others attended the field visit. On March 16, the Government of Japan granted ITF 314,787 Euro (over 615,000KM) for demining of total 295,638 square meters of terrain in these two Municipalities.
On this field visit, Ambassador Ogawa received explanations of mine situation and necessity for demining in the site and observed demining demonstration works.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are still about 80,000 mines left in 2.2 % of total BiH territory, even though more than 20 years have passed since 90’s conflict was over. Since the end of the conflict, 1,751 have been injured and 612 of them died so far. Demining work contributes to not only reducing human damages but changing mine contaminated area into land for agriculture, industry or housing.
Demining is one of priority areas of Japanese assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since 1996, the Government of Japan has granted over 8.3 million EUR (approx. 160 million KM).

Reference:
Signing Ceremony for Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects for Demining in Ilijas and Busovaca :　https://www.bosnia.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000497.html
ITF’s report: http://bit.ly/2uChB8L.