KYIV, 9 August 2023 – Today, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Croatia announced a grant of US$240,000 to the HALO Trust Ukraine, with the intent of deploying four non-technical survey (NTS) teams across the Kyivska and Chernihivska oblasts. This funding represents a critical step forward in ongoing efforts to reduce the threat of explosive ordnance (EO) and to secure safer access to farmlands and essential infrastructure.

As the lead UN agency on mine action, UNDP is supporting the State Emergency Services of Ukraine to spearhead emergency clearance efforts, providing both training and protective equipment to deminers. In tandem with its mine action support, UNDP is focused on scaling up debris removal so that emergency workers can access communities. The grant to HALO is expected to help accelerate these efforts.

The HALO Trust, a respected global organization with decades of experience in humanitarian mine clearance, will use the grant to employ, train, and equip NTS teams, composed predominantly of local civilians from the affected communities. This initiative will lead to a better understanding of the EO contamination in Kyivska and Chernihivska oblasts.

Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative, said partnerships with organizations like HALO that support demining efforts are really important. “The urgency of the situation demands a collective response,” he said.  “Through strengthening our partnerships and uniting our efforts, we can accelerate the demining process, allowing people to return safely to their homes and farms."

Pete Smith, Programme Manager of HALO Ukraine, said the funding will enable HALO Trust to build and operate teams that can more accurately map explosive hazards. “Ukraine is the most heavily mined country in the world, he said. “Through this new partnership with UNDP, we move one step closer to restoring normalcy and building recovery for the populations of Kyivska and Chernihivska oblasts."

Paul Heslop, Programme Manager for Mine Action at UNDP Ukraine, said the grant reflects the organization’s commitment to making Ukraine safer, not just for today but for future generations. “We believe in the capacity of the HALO Trust to execute this mission, based on their vast experience and technical expertise,” he said.

Background information: Ukraine is now one of the world’s most heavily mine-contaminated countries. It’s estimated that about one-third of the country has been exposed to war—an area four and a half times the size of Switzerland. UNDP has been working with Ukraine’s government for 30 years and has led the UN’s mine action programme since 2016. UNDP is a lead partner supporting the State Emergency Services of Ukraine (SESU), ensuring that a strengthening of operational and logistical backing through international funds and expertise translates to a more efficient response to the risks posed by explosive remnants of war.

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications, UNDP in Ukraine; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org