The spread of the mine threat in Ukraine is taking lives
Ukrainian HALO employees have been demining in the eastern regions of Kramatorsk and Mariupol since 2016. At the start of the Russian offensive in February 2022, we were integrated into communities and uniquely positioned to respond quickly to a crisis.
Following the Russian invasion, we launched a new clearance operation around Kyiv to respond to the urgent humanitarian need caused by rockets, cluster bombs and other unexploded hazards. We are currently expanding operations to Kharkiv and planning operations in recently liberated areas such as Kherson.
While clearing the ground, we're also running a rapid expansion program to train hundreds of new employees every month. Now we are the largest international mine action organization in the country. With a fleet, logistics and manpower, HALO was able to respond quickly to changes in the conflict thanks to the flexibility and scale of donor support. HALO also benefits from six years of strong ties with the Ukrainian authorities.
In the north, around the Kyiv region, HALO is dealing with anti-tank mines installed around the former defensive lines in places temporarily occupied by Russian troops in March-April 2022. In Chernihiv, we reveal a more complex picture in a mixed urban and rural environment. with unexploded ordnance as well as mines. We are conducting a survey of dangerous areas around the newly liberated Kharkiv, as well as planning operations in the south around Mykolaiv and Kherson, from which the Russians withdrew in early November 2022. The pattern of contamination is likely to be a higher density of hazards from a greater variety of munitions.
According to some media reports, the Ukrainians spent 6,000 to 8,000 shells a day in the south, many of which did not explode. An additional complication will be the intact remnants of high-tech Western weapons systems that were provided to Ukrainian forces, and thermobaric weapons, the use of which Russia has recognized. Widespread use of drones for both reconnaissance and weapons delivery will require a new approach to UAV wreckage.
At the start of the February conflict, HALO immediately launched a risk education campaign to warn Ukrainians of the dangers in their streets, fields and forests. In addition to face-to-face classes, HALO ran a social media campaign warning people about the dangers, which was seen by 17.7 million Ukrainians.
Mapping of the conflict around Kharkiv
HALO has also developed its largest conflict mapping database. Since the start of hostilities, HALO has been collecting data from multiple open sources to identify specific points of conflict. The collected database now contains over 12,000 data points and will allow us to identify areas where the highest concentrations of explosives pose the greatest threat.
Currently, we have about 600 employees in Ukraine, more of whom have received mine clearance training. In addition to sappers, HALO is training around 35 new risk education teachers to complement our existing teams. By the end of 2022, HALO should have 700 employees who will ensure the safety of Ukrainians.
HALO augments its pre-war logistics capabilities with additional armored excavators, cutters, rotary mine sweepers and remote-controlled clearing machines. From its three decades of experience in war zones, HALO knows that the greatest risk to civilians occurs immediately after the front line moves and local residents want to return to their homes.
One of over 200 civilian casualties caused by landmines
Source: https://www.halotrust.org/where-we-work/europe-and-caucasus/ukraine/
