EU supports International Mine Awareness Day

On the occasion of International Mine Awareness Day, the European Union reaffirmed its commitment to countering the threats posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERWs), including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), through a range of activities including demining, risk education, victim assistance, stockpile destruction, capacity building and research and development in mine detection and clearance. The EU’s commitment to countering the threats posed by landmines and ERWs is further evidenced by the allocation of in excess of €800 million to support mine action in various countries worldwide, including those such as Mozambique, Senegal, Colombia, Croatia, Afghanistan, Syria, Gaza, the West Bank, Iraq, Libya, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Benin, Niger, Kenya and Burkina Faso. Moreover, since 2022, the European Union and its Member States have contributed more than €370 million to support demining efforts in Ukraine, encompassing the clearance of 35,000 km2 of hazardous terrain, the provision of critical demining equipment and mine-sniffing canines to state operators, and the enhancement of Ukrainian mine action governance. It is imperative to acknowledge that even in the aftermath of conflicts, humanitarian demining remains indispensable for enabling refugees and displaced persons to return to their homes. This process facilitates the restoration of economic recovery and development opportunities in regional territories.