Problematic issues of humanitarian demining in Ukraine were considered during a coordination meeting chaired by Prime Minister Denis Shmygal and attended by representatives of the Interior Ministry, Defense Ministry, Economy Ministry and State Emergency Service.
“Because of Russian aggression, Ukraine is currently one of the most contaminated countries in the world by mines and shells. Humanitarian demining is the first stage in the reconstruction of de-occupied territories, allowing the reconstruction of housing and critical infrastructure to begin. The need for demining is growing as Ukrainian territories are liberated,” the government’s press service quotes Shmygal as saying.
According to the State Emergency Situations Service, the communities in 10 regions of Ukraine most in need of demining today. About 30% of the entire area of the state is contaminated. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, since the beginning of the Russian aggression the bodies of the State Emergency Situations Service together with the National Police have seized about 500 thousand shells and explosive objects.
As a result of the meeting it was decided to create a state institution Ukrainian Center for Humanitarian Demining, which will serve as the secretariat and analytical center and to collect and summarize information on the needs of demining in the Ministry of Defense, the Interior Ministry, the State Emergencies Service, the regional military administrations, partner countries and international organizations.
As the Prime Minister noted, such an institution would improve coordination between all the subjects of mine action. And also it will allow to attract all possible resources, both internal and external, for conducting demining.
In addition, following the results of the meeting it was instructed to develop an operational order of formation and maintenance of the register of land clearing, to accelerate the certification of foreign organizations working in this direction, to develop technical regulations of the processes of mine action.
