Landmines

As a result of the war, there are still some landmines in Bosnia, so it is sensible to be aware of the issue before you begin your volunteer work. However, it is extremely unlikely that you will be in any direct danger – in the ten year since the war there has been a strategic clean-up operation, and any remaining minefields will be clearly fenced-off and labelled. There has never been a land-mine incident of any kind in OXAB’s history. The main thing is to abide by the principles of remaining in well-used paths, being aware of signs and warnings from locals. Below is a some basic landmine information OXAB volunteers may find useful, including what to do in a worst-case scenario.

Landmines Information

Common characteristics: Usually dirty yellow, green, or brown in colour, and made from metallic or plastic material (although some are wooden)

Likely Locations: Confrontation lines, and military sites; dirt and gravel roads as well as road shoulders and ditches; abandoned buildings (particularly those once occupied by soldiers) and equipment; woods, orchards and uncared-for fields.

Strategic sites: Road junctions; bases of electricity pylons and power stations; warehouses; near road bridges and rail bridges; railways (and tramways), especially at crossings; dead ground (canals, ditches, or approach to defensive area, and so on); dams, wells, and pipelines for water and oil; religious shrines and graveyards. Susceptibility to mines may also be increased by seasonal factors. Heavy rains and flooding often uncover or move mines causing an increase in mine incidents. Snow, which hides even surface-laid mines, has obvious implications, as does the subsequent snow-melt.

Indicators: Mine signs - sites marked with danger, and/or fenced;mine craters; mine casualties, debris (animal remains, remnants of footwear, and so on); military relics (bunkers, barbed-wire entanglements, ammunition dumps, destroyed/abandoned weapons/vehicles, buildings which may have been used for military purposes or occupied during a battle). Trip wire, cables (taut, partly buried or entangled thin-gauge wire or filament) Wooden stakes, especially if seen in conjunction with wires Unusual colours or shapes - be suspicious of exposed round edges (they rarely occur in nature), dirty-yellow and green objects, and metallic or plastic surfaces. But remember that not all mines are round - some are oblong and made of wood. Disturbed ground; unattended fields. Any area which has been fought over by opposing forces, where each side has established strong defensive positions and especially where those positions and the ground separating them have changed hands, must be suspected to be heavily mined. This is especially true of lowlands separating heavily-defended hill positions such as Sarajevo. Susceptibility to mines may also be increased by seasonal factors. Heavy rains and flooding often uncover or move mines causing an increase in mine incidents. Snow, which hides even surface-laid mines, has obvious implications, as does the subsequent snow-melt.

Avoidance: Keep to well-used roads and tracks; stay to known safe areas - stick to approved safe routes; never travel in high-risk areas for non-essential reasons; do not drive or walk off the road; do not use over-grown or little used routes; observe local behaviour

Obtain mine information - ask questions. If in any doubt, turn back.

Personnel Vehicles: Follow vehicle tracks and hard roads Use fresh vehicle tracks and metalled roads Maintain 10 metre spacing in at-risk areas Maintain 100 metre spacing in at-risk areas.

Worse-case scenario: if you’re in a mined / suspected mined field:

If you’re in a vehicle when you see a mine or suspicious indicator:

• STOP - Stay with your vehicle - Call for help.
• If you have to leave your vehicle, exit via rear or over roof
• Use your vehicle tracks
• Mark and report the find

If you’re on foot when you see a mine or suspicious indicator:

• STOP all movement immediately, and warn others around you
• Look around your feet for tripwires and fuses.
• Turn around slowly and carefully, and identify safe ground.
• Retrace your route as closely as possible - one person at a time - until in a known safe area. Mark foot-prints for others, if in a group. One person moves at a time. Maintain safety distances of at least 10 metres. Mark the find with whatever is at hand, and report to the authorities.
• Last resort action If there is no obvious escape route, if you reach a point where you simply cannot remember which path you took, or if you find a mine on what you thought was a safe exit route, the only possible solution then is to probe for mines - a slow, painstaking and potentially dangerous task. The most suitable improvised probe is a strong knife with a minimum 4-inch blade length. Every square centimetre must be probed. Working methodically, the probe is carefully used to pierce the ground at an angle of 30 degrees. Whenever the probe meets resistance, the earth is carefully scraped away to expose the obstruction. In most cases this will be a stone or similar harmless object, in which case methodical probing continues. If the object is a mine, probing should recommence cautiously to by-pass the mine. Never attempt to move the mine. It should be understood that such an escape may take many hours.

Rescuing a victim from a minefield

• STOP - do not rush to help or you too will become a casualty.
• Call for medical/specialist team help if possible.
• Assess the situation - it is possible that the initial explosion may have disturbed, exposed, or made unstable other devices in the vicinity. The victim’s body may be concealing untriggered mines. Establish a safe route to the victim, where possible following the victim’s entry route. STOP 2 metres from the casualty and make a close visual inspection of the immediate surroundings. Look for visible mines and trip-wires Clear space around victim. Do not rush. Probe carefully under the victim’s limbs and clothes for unexploded devices. Try to calm the victim and treat any bleeding. Clear a route to a safe area, and carry victim out.

If you are in a mined area and hear an audible click

• FREEZE
• Send someone for help
• DO NOT MOVE YOUR FEET UNTIL HELP ARRIVES

While we emphasise the importance of being aware of the issue of landmines, we would like to stress that it is not something for OXAB volunteers to worry about provided you are sensible and informed.

Last updated: December 1st, 2007