Spouse of the President of Slovenia briefed on the results of the ITF Enhancing Human Security humanitarian assistance to mine victims in Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina

ITF has so far cleared more than 120 million square metres of minefields in Bosnia and Herzegovina, assisted 972 mine victims who lost a leg or an arm in mine accidents, and implemented assistance programmes for more than 5,000 families of mine victims. The Brčko district was particularly heavily mined as a result of the military conflict, and even after the end of the war, as many as 278 people have been victims of explosions of mines and explosive remnants of war. 
 
Since 2009, Posavina bez mina and ITF have been assisting mine victims in Brčko District and the Posavje Canton of BiH through various forms of medical and psychosocial assistance. The past year was a very successful one from the humanitarian point of view, especially because of the generous donation from the Republic of Korea. On the invitation of ITF Director, Amb. Tomaž Lovrenčič, the presentation of the results of humanitarian work was attended by the Dr Aleš Musar, the spouse of the President of the Republic of Slovenia. Dr Musar praised the work of the local NGO Posavina bez mina (Posavina without Mines), and visited mine victims in their homes, who, thanks to the humanitarian aid, are engaged in simple forms of agriculture and are trying to integrate themselves into the life of the local community in various ways. 
 
Dr Aleš Musar reiterated the commitment of the Slovenian ITF to further develop its humanitarian assistance programmes in Bosnia and Herzegovina and expressed his gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Korea, whose donations make such achievements possible. He also noted that even after the Brčko District is cleared of mines, it will be necessary to continue to provide assistance for the mine victims, their families and the community as a whole. 
 
The representatives of the local authorities expressed their gratitude for all the support provided so far and expressed their hope for the continuation of the successful partnership between Posavina bez Mina and the Slovenian ITF in the future, while at the same time expressing the need for further engagement of existing donors as well as new ones, as the care of mine victims remains their highest priority.