Switzerland organizes conference on demining in Ukraine

Switzerland will host a conference on mine action in Ukraine (UMAC2024) on October 17 and 18 in Lausanne, jointly with the Ukrainian side. The main goal of the event is to emphasize the importance of humanitarian demining for Ukraine's recovery from the war.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to Swissinfo.

According to the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EDA), demining is critical to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The conference will be attended by representatives of foreign governments, international organizations, civil society and Swiss and Ukrainian partners in humanitarian demining.

The UMAC2024 conference will focus on the interests of civilians and look at how innovation can increase the effectiveness and safety of mine action. Switzerland will be represented at the event by the President of the Swiss Confederation 2024, the head of the Ministry of Defense Viola Amherd and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis.

According to the Swiss government, about a quarter of Ukraine's territory is contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance. In 2023, the Swiss Federal Council approved a four-year plan to assist Ukraine in humanitarian demining worth 100 million Swiss francs ($118 million).

In addition, Switzerland is implementing a program to help mine victims and farmers who have lost the ability to cultivate their land due to mine danger.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 18/09/2024