Field now clear for

Family and Grazing

By Prairie Summer

Adopt-A-Minefield

Program Coordinator

The fertile ground of eastern Croatia is ideal for agriculture and farming of all kinds. Ideal that is, except for areas potentially contaminated by landmines, which sit overgrown and unsafe for farmers to cultivate.

 As we walked through the fields belonging to Mr. Ivica Drnić, he paused along the path several times to point out land where minefields were recently removed. The field, now used for grazing cattle, was cleared by Adopt-A-Minefield in 2007. Prior to the demining operation, he was forced to keep his cattle along the road and to keep his two sons from playing in the area.

During the war in the early 1990s, Drnić fled the village along with most of the local population. While he was gone, landmines were planted on his land and throughout the area.

And while there were once about 200 households in the area, only seven have returned since the end of the conflict.

Drnić chose to return and the state rebuilt his house, which had been destroyed, in 1998. When he first moved back he discovered 12 landmines on his property, which he marked off and reported to the police. When they took no action, he became increasingly concerned for the safety of his two sons, and felt a growing need to enter into the contaminated areas to collect firewood, chestnuts and other valuable resources.

At last help arrived, and in addition to the mines he discovered the mine clearance team uncovered and removed five more mines and remnants of war.

Photos ©AAM by Andris Bjornson

Mr. Drnić is deeply grateful for the demining of his land that has made it possible for his children to play in the orchards and live without fear. Before this area was cleared, he could not let them run and play freely. Now, with two growing boys, cows, pigs, and a thriving harvest of plums, boysenberries, pears and apples, Mr. Drnić is regaining a normal life. He has begun sharing his field with a neighbor and hopes clearance efforts will continue to help others like him so the region can flourish once again.

While it is amazing to see the impact of AAM’s work, and how quickly he has been able to make productive use of the land once it was cleared, one cannot help but note the shining red “danger – mines” sign still posted on the path. He is happy to have use of the land closest to his house, to keep his children safe and provide enough food for his cattle to keep them away from the road. But that is not the end. “Nothing is settled yet,” he says. There are still many acres to be cleared and he hopes to grow his farm as land becomes available to do so.

As we turn to leave, his sons stroll out of the house, having just returned from school and he introduces them proudly to us. Meeting people like him reminds me why I work with Adopt-A-Minefield and what a huge impact we can have on the lives of those most in need. He, and so many other farmers and families in the region, still need our help. Great progress has been made in removing the threat of landmines in Croatia and yet there is still more to be done...