Unexploded landmines, explosive devices and shells continue to kill and injure civilians with disturbing regularity, read the statement issued on the occasion of April 4.
Croatia still has about 240,000 unactivated mines inside mine suspect areas, which today spread over 12 out of 21 counties, i.e. over 121 cities and municipalities, according to the Croatian Mine Action Centre.
Since the beginning of the war in 1991, Croatia has had 1,896 mine victims.
The aim of International Mine Awareness Day is to warn about the danger of arms the victims of which around the world are overwhelmingly civilians.
International organisations are especially concerned about children as in some countries, such as Afghanistan, the majority of mine victims are under 18.
On the occasion of April 4, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the concerted efforts and achievements of all UN countries, nongovernmental organisations and mine-affected states.
The number of mine victims in Croatia has been decreasing year after year. In 2006, there were 11 victims, out of which one death casualty, while in 2004 that number was 16 victims, out of which 14 death casualties.
As the co-signatory of the Ottawa Convention, Croatia committed itself to becoming a mine-free country by 2009, but despite real progress, Croatia is due to miss its 2009 target as independent estimates and the current rate of clearance indicate that Croatia will not be mine-free until 2049.
Croatia is amongst the small number of states that is leading the way in taking responsibility for its own clearance, with the Croatian tax-payer taking on an impressive proportion of the burden in clearing and making safe contaminated land, UNDP experts cautioned in the statement.
With this in mind, Croatia and part of the international community advocate the continuation of donor support.
Mine action programmes and the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty known as the Ottawa Convention, initiated by the UN 10 years ago, has been signed by 153 countries, which have committed to destroying all landmines within four years and minefields within 10 years after the Convention goes into force at the latest.
Ottawa Convention programmes have contributed to a reduction in the annual number of casualties from an estimated 26,000 10 years ago to between 15,000 and 20,000 today, said the UNDP.