EU donates vehicles to support BiH's mine clearance
SARAJEVO, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has donated 15 off-road vehicles to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center (BiHMAC) to support ongoing demining efforts in the country, according to the center on Thursday.
The vehicles, along with uniforms and essential equipment, will help the BiHMAC improve access to remote areas and strengthen demining operations.
The EU delegation in BiH said the donation reaffirms the EU's long-term commitment to a mine-free BiH. To date, BiH has received over 50 million euros in EU demining support.
Enis Horozovic, director of BiHMAC, noted the new fleet will replace the outdated vehicles and help implement 42 EU-funded demining projects covering 70 square km in the coming three and a half years.
Despite progress, around 822 square km of land in BiH remains mine-contaminated so far. Since 1995, nearly 1,800 people have been injured and 624 killed by mines in the country. (1 euro = 1.15 U.S. dollars)
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