07 Apr 2022
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Explosive remnants of war in Ukraine
For every new day of conflict in Ukraine, the country is littered with lethal traces of unexploded ordnance. DRC prepares to expand and scale up humanitarian mine action in Ukraine and is standby to start clearing and disposing the dangerous leftovers from the battlefields.
Considering the staggering increase in the risks of Explosive Ordnance to civilians across Ukraine, DRC prepares to scale up and expand humanitarian mine action in the country. DRC was already engaged in mine clearance and in Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) in Ukraine since 2015, and maintains solid national capacity to run a large-scale mine action programme.
With the rapid conflict escalation since 24 February 2022, risks from new unexploded ordnance, mines and other weapons increase by the day. DRC is providing Risk Education to limit accidents in areas where fighting has happened. Next step is starting the actual removal and disposal of unexploded ordnance as soon as access is possible.
DRC furthermore plans to scale up support of the States Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) dealing with mine action and disposal of explosive ordnance.
DRC works to assist mine victims in countries around the world where explosive remnants of war pose threats to lives and livelihoods - an area that is becoming of increasing relevance in Ukraine as the crisis evolves.
In Ukraine - and on a global level - DRC continues to advocate for the respect of International Humanitarian Law and against the use of Cluster Munition, Anti-Personnel Landmines (APL), and Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA).