Part of funds allocated by Government of the Netherlands to Ukraine will be used for humanitarian demining
This was discussed during a meeting between Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands Liesje Schreinemacher.
According to Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, the Government of the Netherlands has allocated EUR 2.5 billion in aid for Ukraine in 2023. Part of these funds will be used for humanitarian demining of the territory of Ukraine.
“Currently, 30% of Ukraine’s territory is mined. The State Emergency Service and the National Police are engaged in demining. We have tripled the number of demining and bomb squads. About half a million explosive items have already been neutralized,” Ihor Klymenko said at the beginning of the meeting.
He added that there was a heavy burden on deminers and sappers in the de-occupied territories, as the enemy was leaving not only roads but also houses mined.
“Today we say that we have been carrying out mostly operational demining – roads, power lines, gas pipelines. Tomorrow, we will face the fact that we will have to clear large areas, including agricultural land, as well as the Black and Azov Seas and adjacent rivers. That is why we are trying to staff our demining units as much as possible. And now we need heavy demining vehicles. Because the safety of our people is a priority,” said Ihor Klymenko.
In turn, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands Liesje Schreinemacher emphasized that she admired the spirit of defiance of Ukrainians and would assist Ukraine in receiving the necessary assistance.
“Demining is a process that requires attention and time, and a lot of effort. The work you have done is very important. I admire what your team is doing and I am happy that the Netherlands can provide you with assistance. We will do our best to provide more assistance as soon as possible, as we understand the amount of work,” she said.
Ihor Klymenko also thanked the Netherlands for the assistance already provided, in particular for mobile hospitals, as well as for sheltering 85,000 Ukrainians who had been granted temporary protection in the Netherlands.