B O S N I A A N D H E R Z E G O V I N A
Many refugees are returning to their homes and farms, which has increased the frequency of mine and UXO incidents, and resultant deaths and amputations, particularly among unsuspecting children. "As many as 50 Bosnians are killed per month," said Adem Kuric, a Bosnian Muslim who served as a medical technician during the war. "The mines are everywhere." In response, Kuric took positive action. "I couldn't continue being an ordinary medic after the war," said Kuric. "Friends and children died in my hands. It was either sit and go crazy or do something for people."
Kuric joined a group of like-minded "alpinists" to create MEDEX, a mine awareness camp for children, on Mount Pavlovica near the Bosnian town of Novi Travnik. Besides being familiar ground to Kuric, Pavlovica was also the biggest mine-free area in Bosnia. It also had its roots in the mountaineering society of Novi Travnik, formed in 1968 with members from all ethnic backgrounds. During the war, however, Muslims and Croats were divided, the society's president was killed, and its building was destroyed. When hostilities ceased in April 1994, the mountaineering society invited past and present members from both sides to its annual celebration day Ñ resulting in an unprecedented success with both sides and many NGOs attending.
That summer, in the wake of rising incidents from mines and UXO among children, the society decided to form a local NGO to combat the problem, with Adem Kuric as its coordinator.
The result was a mine awareness camp bringing children aged 8-18 from throughout the country for training in mine and UXO awareness raising. First held in May 1996, the camp has run for two summers, training 1,500 children for free, as MEDEX continues its search for funding. Past donors have included Britain, Canada and Sweden.
The camp has capacity for 60 children from all ethnic backgrounds for each six-day session, which means more than 3,000 kids can benefit a year. Besides mine awareness, the kids also learn first aid and social and ethnic tolerance. "The children are very happy to get away from home to be on their own. To be independent," said Kuric. "There's no money at home and they want to know so many things. They're very happy here and they have no problems with the other kids. The only problem is going back home." Respect for the countryside is also encouraged through talks and recreational activities such as hiking, caving, swimming, sports and skiing.
"For many of these children, it will be their first break since the beginning of the war. However, MEDEX is not just a holiday camp," adds Kuric. "Children also take part in running the camp, fetching wood, washing up and preparing the meals."
The holidays must come later, having been saved from the mines.