Country Summary 

Kosovo is contaminated by antipersonnel mines and antivehicle mines that were laid during the 1998–1999 conflict. The cluster munition remnants that contaminate Kosovo are a consequence of Operation Allied Force, carried out by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1999. The air campaign lasted for 78 days and involved cluster munition attacks in at least 333 locations.[1]

Two years after the conflict ended, the United Nations (UN) initially declared Kosovo to be mine free. However, the HALO Trust conducted investigations that revealed significant contamination, with further survey needed to capture the full extent of the problem.[2] 

In 2013, a joint survey carried out by the Kosovo Mine Action Centre (KMAC) and the HALO Trust identified the locations of additional cluster munition strikes and minefields. An independent evaluation in 2014 concluded that it would take 12 years to clear this contamination.[3]

In 2019, KMAC adopted a Multi-Year Strategic Plan up to 2024, but has faced challenges in implementing it. KMAC was developing a new strategy, with an updated completion timeline, for the clearance of 5.58km² of confirmed hazardous areas (CHAs) contaminated by antipersonnel mines and cluster munition remnants.[4] 

The political status of Kosovo is disputed. It has no official representation in the UN, which prevents its accession to the Mine Ban Treaty or the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Assessing the Impact

Contamination

Extent of contamination[5]

Note: CHA=confirmed hazardous area; SHA=suspected hazardous area. 

Landmine contamination

As of the end of 2022, antipersonnel landmine contamination in Kosovo totaled 0.58km², with 0.21km² CHA and 0.37km² suspected hazardous area (SHA). Of the total SHA, 0.07km² was newly recorded.

Additionally, 0.42km² CHA containing mixed contamination—consisting of both antipersonnel mines and cluster munitions remnants—was recorded during 2022.[6]

Both antipersonnel and antivehicle landmines were used during the conflict in Kosovo, in fixed-pattern defensive and protective minefields, as well as more randomly in nuisance minefields.[7]

The landmine types most commonly used were PMA-2 and PMA-3 antipersonnel blast mines, PMR-2A bounding fragmentation mines, and TMA-3 antivehicle mines.[8]

Cluster munition remnants contamination

Cluster munition remnants contamination in Kosovo totaled 9.4km² as of the end of 2022. This was made up of 4.95km² CHA and 4.45km² SHA.[9] An additional 0.42km², classified as CHA, contained mixed contamination consisting of both antipersonnel mines and cluster munition remnants.

Four types of cluster munitions used in northern Kosovo were identified during survey: CBU-87/B (dispersing BLU-97, BLU-97B, and BLU-97A/B submunitions); CBU-99 (dispersing MK-118 BL submunitions); BL-755 (dispersing MK-1 submunitions); and RBL-755 (dispersing MK-4 submunitions).[10]

Other types of contamination

Explosive remnants of war (ERW) remain a problem in Kosovo, though the full extent of contamination is unknown. Most ERW consists of unexploded aircraft bombs and abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO) from the 1998–1999 conflict. Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams have also encountered items of unexploded ordnance dating back to World War II.[11]

Casualties

From 1999 to 2022, a total of 585 mine/ERW casualties (117 killed and 468 injured) were recorded in Kosovo. The vast majority of casualties (438) were recorded between 1999 and 2000.[12] The most recent casualties reported by Kosovo occurred in 2019, when one woman and four children (two boys and two girls) were injured in incidents involving ERW, reported as hand grenades.[13]

At least 205 cluster munition casualties have been recorded in Kosovo. From 1999–2014, a total of 180 casualties were reported from cluster munition remnants.[14] The most recent incidents involving cluster munition remnants occurred in 2014, causing two casualties.[15]

5-year total: 2018–2022[16]

Casualties in 2022 

No casualties were reported in Kosovo in 2022.[17]

Coordination

Summary table[18]

Note: N/A=not applicable; IMAS=International Mine Action Standards.

Addressing the Impact

Clearance

Highlights from 2022

In November 2022, KMAC, with support from the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), facilitated a mid-term review of its Multiyear Strategic Plan for 2019–2024 through a stakeholder workshop. The review aimed to assess whether Kosovo remained on target to clear all known hazardous areas by the end of 2024. 

The greatest challenges for implementation, identified during the review, included COVID-19 restrictions, the discovery of previously unknown contaminated areas containing antipersonnel mines and cluster munition remnants, and substantial delays in the multiyear European Union (EU) grant that will fund HALO Trust and Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) activities. Operational assets, including survey and clearance equipment and vehicles, were found to be old and in need of repairs, and in some cases replacement. Seasonal and local geographic factors affected access to some contaminated areas.

Taking account of these challenges, KMAC, along with other mine action operators in Kosovo, will develop a new strategy with an updated contamination baseline and completion timeline.[19]

Management and coordination

Management and coordination overview  

KMAC is responsible for overseeing the clearance of mines/ERW in Kosovo. KMAC prepares workplans, and coordinates operations with the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the demining sector in Kosovo. The KSF provides a national clearance capacity, including EOD emergency response and risk education.

Risk education is coordinated through KMAC, and a country-level technical working group is in place. Yet there is currently no formal national strategy for the delivery of risk education.[20]

Legislation and standards 

Kosovo has national mine action standards in place, which conform to the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).[21]

Strategies and policies

In 2018, a socio-economic baseline assessment of the impact of ERW on affected communities was completed. This resulted in a framework for prioritizing clearance, which was adopted by KMAC and used to shape the Multiyear Strategic Plan for 2019–2024.[22]

In November 2022, KMAC, with support from GICHD, facilitated a mid-term review of the strategic plan through a stakeholder workshop held in Pristina. The workshop, which benefited from the participation of all key mine action stakeholders in Kosovo, will aid the development of a new strategy with an updated contamination baseline and completion timeline.[23]

Information management 

KMAC uses the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) Next Generation. Kosovo disaggregates data on landmines, cluster munition remnants, and ERW.[24]

Gender and diversity

Women have worked for KMAC, and in demining teams, since 1999. Kosovo had some of the first all-women demining teams.[25]

Clearance operators

The KSF, the HALO Trust, and NPA work as clearance operators in Kosovo.[26]

Land release: antipersonnel landmine

2022 land release overview: Landmine[27]

Note: APM=antipersonnel mines; AVM=antivehicle mines.

A total of 0.39km² of antipersonnel mine contaminated land was released by Kosovo in 2022, with 12 antipersonnel mines and one antivehicle mine destroyed. Of the land released, 0.02km² was cleared, 0.03km² was reduced through technical survey, and 0.34km² was canceled.[28]

Five-year landmine clearance: 2018–2022[29]

Note: APM=antipersonnel mines; AVM=antivehicle mines; ERW=explosive remnants of war; N/A=not applicable.

From 2018–2022, Kosovo cleared a total of 0.88km² of land containing landmines and ERW. 

Land release: cluster munition remnants

2022 land release overview: CMR[30]

Note: CMR=cluster munition remnants.

In 2022, Kosovo released 3.35km² of land, destroying a total of 161 cluster munitions remnants.

Five-year cluster munition remnant clearance: 2018–2022[31]

Note: CMR=cluster munition remnants; N/A=not applicable.

From 2018–2022, Kosovo cleared 10.81km² of land containing cluster minition remnants. The amount of land cleared slightly decreased in 2022, compared to 2021 and 2020. The full extent of cluster munition remnant contamination in Kosovo remains unknown, and further technical survey is pending. 

Risk education

Risk education operators

The KSF is the only operator delivering risk education in Kosovo.

Beneficiary data

  Beneficiary data in 2022[32]

Note: N/A=not applicable.

Target groups

The KSF targets primary-level schoolchildren near contaminated areas, as the sole beneficiaries of its risk education program.

Delivery methods

KSF presentations reached a total of 1,495 children at 43 primary schools in 2022.[33]

Victim assistance

Management and coordination

There is no victim assistance program in Kosovo. The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is responsible for disability rights issues.[34]

Victim assistance providers

No specific victim assistance activities were reported in Kosovo. Disability rights activities are implemented by national NGOs such as HANDIKOS, who seek to improve the rights and living standards of persons with disabilities.

Needs assessment

Mine/ERW survivors and persons with disabilities in Kosovo continued to face discrimination and lack access to medical care, education, physical infrastructure, and employment.[35]

Medical care and rehabilitation

In 2022, HANDIKOS received donations of assistive devices, and advocated for improvements in the situation of persons with disabilities.[36]

The delivery of healthcare services to persons with disabilities, including mine/ERW survivors, remained inefficient. The European Commission (EC) reported that increased financial support for community-based social and health services is needed, as are increased efforts to effectively integrate persons with disabilities into the education system.[37]

Socio-economic and psychosocial inclusion

Kosovo does not have adequate coordination between services. There is a lack of psychosocial support for mine/ERW victims, despite there being a significant level of need.[38]

Children with disabilities, including mine and ERW survivors, face limited educational options. There is only one public school for visually impaired children, with limited rooms available.[39]

Legal frameworks or policies on disability inclusion

Kosovo has legislation in place concerning persons with disabilities yet lacks a harmonized law on the issue.

Based on Article 65 (1) of Kosovo’s Constitution, “The Law On The Status And The Rights Of The Martyrs, Invalids, Veterans, Members Of Kosova Liberation Army, Civilian Victims Of War And Their Families” determines the rights of and benefits granted to veterans, war invalids, and their family members. The law also determines “the status and the rights of civilian victims, civilian persons disabled in the war and the families of those taken hostage or civilian persons missing in the war.”[40]

Investigations carried out by the Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) Kosovo concluded that this law is not implemented consistently and that its application is “often arbitrary, due to lack of information and the insufficient competence of employees in state and local government.”[41]

[1] HALO Trust, “Action on Cluster Munitions in Kosovo,” 9 September 2015.

[2] HALO Trust, “Where we Work: Kosovo,” undated.

[3] HALO Trust, “Action on Cluster Munitions in Kosovo,” 9 September 2015.

[4] Email from Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 7 June 2023.

[5] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 24 April 2023.

[6] Ibid.

[7] International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), “Explosive Remnants of War, Cluster Bombs and Landmines in Kosovo,” June 2001, p. 15.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 24 April 2023.

[10] NPA, “Cluster Munition Remnants in Northern Kosovo: Non-Technical Survey of Contamination and Impact,” September 2015.

[11] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 24 April 2023.

[12] “List of Mine/UXO [unexploded ordnance] Civilian Victims in Kosovo 1999–2010,” document provided by email from Bajram Krasniqi, Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), 21 March 2011.

[13] Email from Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 28 July 2020.

[14] Handicap International (HI),Circle of Impact: The Fatal Footprint of Cluster Munitions on People and Communities (Brussels: HI, May 2007), p. 69.

[15] Email from Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 4 March 2015.

[16] Data extract from Monitor casualty dataset for Kosovo (1999–2022).

[17] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 24 April 2023.

[18] Ibid.

[19] Email from Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 24 April 2023

[20] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 24 April 2023; and emails from Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 7 and 9 June 2023.

[21] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 24 April 2023.

[22] HALO Trust, “Annual Report and Financial Statements,” 31 March 2019

[23] Email from Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 7 June 2023.

[24] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 11 May 2022.

[25] GICHD, “Impact and Stories: More than 20 years of women in demining teams in Kosovo,” 2022.

[26] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 11 May 2022.

[27] Ibid.

[28]Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 24 April 2023.

[29] ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Kosovo: Impact,” updated 9 February 2021.

[30] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 24 April 2023.

[31] Ibid.

[32] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Ahmet Sallova, Director, KMAC, 24 April 2023.

[33] Ibid.

[34] Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, “Social and Family Policies Department,” undated.

[35] Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), “Civil Society Report on Human Rights in Kosovo in 2019,” June 2020, p. 32.

[36] HANDIKOS “Prime Minister Kurti Visits HANDIKOS,” 5 December 2022.

[37] EC, “Kosovo 2022 Report,” Commission Staff Working Document, 12 October 2022, p. 38.

[38] United States (US) Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, “2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Kosovo,” March 2023.

[39] Ibid.

[40] Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) Kosovo, “The legal and institutional framework in Serbia regarding the rights and needs of civilian victims of war,” August 2017, p. 51.

[41] Ibid., p. 53.