Ukraine among five most heavily mined countries due to war in Donbas

"Ukraine is currently among the five most heavily mined countries, and if we talk about anti-personnel mines, which are even banned by the Ottawa Treaty [The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, signed in Ottawa on December 3-4, 1997], then Ukraine is among three most dangerous countries in the world," First Vice Speaker of Ukrainian Parliament Iryna Gerashchenko said during a presentation of the report on her activity at the position of the Ukrainian presidential commissioner for peaceful settlement of the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

In this context, she reminded that the recently approved amendments to the law on mine action unlock international assistance to Ukraine for humanitarian demining.

"It is very important to intensify this work. There are about 7 thousand square kilometers hit by explosive items, and about 1.5 million people live on these territories," Gerashchenko emphasized.

ol