FSD Mine and UXO clearance in Kharkiv and Kherson Oblasts (MUCKKO)

Among the 6,7 mio people in need of humanitarian mine action assistance in 2024identified by the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), the cluster targets three groups: IDPs, returnees and residents who remained at home in contaminated areas.

EO clearance benefits all the population in a given area. The reduction of threat has a life-saving impact on the civilian population, and an economic impact and allows to restore essential services (clearance of infrastructure). For EORE, beneficiaries are identified depending on the level of threat and the messages adapted to the different needs of girls, boys, women and men. Men make up more than 80% of victims of EO accidents.

Outcome 1 - Define the threat from explosive ordnance in selected areas through focused non-technical survey (NTS) activities.

Outcome 2 – Raise the awareness of the dangers of explosive ordnance (EO) in selected areas through EO risk education (EORE).

Outcome 3 - Reduce the threat from explosive ordnance in Confirmed and/or Suspected Hazard Areas in selected communities through Technical Survey, battle area clearance (BAC) of UXO, and mine clearance.

Outcome 4 – Empower local humanitarian mine action efforts by entering into a capacity development partnership with a Ukrainian non-government organization (NNGO) and training/supporting their operational, managerial and administrative staff to comply with national and international standards and requirements.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

• 4 NTS teams are deployed, conducting a total of 140 NTS visits and producing a report for each visit.
• NTS teams conduct Post-Clearance Impact Assessment (PCIA) to determine the socio-economic impact of FSD’s intervention.
• 4 EORE teams are deployed, conducting a total of 1,080 visits in total (covering approx. 16,200 people)
• 9 manual + 1 mechanical mine clearance teams are recruited, trained, equipped and deployed.
• 2 technical survey dogs (TSD) are trained, equipped and deployed.
• Clearance: approx. 4,000 m2 per month for BAC, 1,750m2 for manual clearance, 13,850m2 for mechanical demining and 40,000m2 for TSD.
• 1 NTS, 1 EORE and 3 manual clearance teams are recruited, trained, equipped and deployed within the national NGO.

Principaux résultats antérieurs:   Phase 01 (01.01-30.11.2024) has allowed to build the fundaments of a long-term mine action intervention in Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts. 7 NTS teams, 5 EORE teams and 8 manual clearance teams were recruited, trained and deployed. In Kharkiv oblast, they cleared 10,808 m2 and conducted 766 EORE sessions. Significant delays were encountered for mechanical demining, due to the late deployment of the GCS machine by the producer. The technical survey dogs could not be deployed, following a change of legislation. They will be operational in phase 02. For operations in Kherson oblast, an office was set up in Kryvyj Rih (Dnepropetrovsk oblast) during phase 01. Substantial equipment (vehicles, demining tools, PPE) was acquired and is transferred to phase 02.

47 operators are so far accredited in Ukraine and coordinated through active mechanisms (e.g., mine action working group).

FSD takes an active role in coordination and has accreditions from the national authorities, except for technical survey dogs (in process).

This project has synergies with all other mine action projects (WFP, Halo, DRC, NPA, HI, MAG, etc): plots are attributed and all operators pursue the common goal of reducing the territory at risk. When on stand-by, FSD teams support other operators.