Mines in Croatia, the final step
Croatia began clearing 1,174 square kilometers of land in 1996, and since 1998 has done so with the support of several donors, including the European Union. With the "Croatian Safe Steps CROSS II" project, co-financed by the EU under the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme, it will be able to declare itself mine-free by 2026. Text by Nicole Corritore, photos by Silvia Maraone
The photographs were taken during the reportage "After thirty years, Croatia is free from mines" by Nicole Corritore, northeast of Otočac, Lika-Senj County, near the woods where demining is being carried out as part of the “Croatian Safe Steps CROSS II ”.
Since 1998, demining operations have cost €1.107 billion, approximately 60% of which was covered by state funds and—along with loans from the World Bank and other local and foreign donors—approximately 26% (€286,441,128) from European funds.
These explosive devices have caused dozens of victims even after the war, as evidenced by official data provided by the Ministry of the Interior – Civil Protection: from 1996, especially until 2005, 207 civilians were killed and 403 injured, and 41 deminers were killed and 95 injured.
This article is published as part of the Cohesion4Climate project, co-funded by the European Union. The EU is in no way responsible for the information or views expressed within the project; the responsibility lies solely with OBCT.
