On January 23, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), together with Sojitz Corporation, Isuzu Motors Limited, and Tadano Limited, discussed with the Emergency Service of Ukraine the technical cooperation project “Humanitarian Mine and UXO Countermeasures Capacity Enhancement Project” for which the Minutes of Discussion (R/D) on the project commencement was signed on January 10. As part of the “Project for Strengthening Humanitarian Mine and UXO Countermeasures Capability”, which was initiated on January 10, 2012, the Company and Tadano Ltd. confirmed to provide a truck with a crane, which is a truck of Isuzu Motors Ltd. equipped with a crane manufactured by Tadano, for the purpose of enhancing the Emergency Agency’s capability to transport processed explosives.
In Ukraine, Russian aggression and attacks have resulted in the spread of contamination from landmines and unexploded ordnance over a wide area of the country (see note). This not only threatens the safety and security of the Ukrainian people, but also poses a major obstacle to future recovery and reconstruction efforts. The disposal of landmines and unexploded ordnance is an issue that must be urgently addressed, just as is the need to secure electricity and water, which are currently in short supply.
The Emergency Agency under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine is the government agency in charge of humanitarian mine and explosive device countermeasures and is working hard to detect, identify, and dispose of mines and explosives to ensure people’s safety in the face of continued Russian attacks. However, in the face of enormous needs, the Emergency Situations Agency has to urgently strengthen its system by increasing the number of personnel and countermeasure equipment. In view of this situation, JICA has initiated a technical cooperation project to strengthen the capacity of the Emergency Agency, and will provide a truck with a crane, which was indicated as an urgent need by the recipient.
Based on the policy of the Japanese government, JICA will continue its efforts to strengthen cooperation with the Ukrainian side in the field of humanitarian mine action, which directly affects the safety and security of the Ukrainian people and is indispensable for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.
(Note) According to the National Mine Action Service of Ukraine, as of November 2022, approximately 160,000 square kilometers, or about a quarter of Ukraine’s land area (603,700 square kilometers, about 1.6 times the size of Japan), may be contaminated by landmines and other explosive devices.
© Source JICA