On October 17-18, 2024, in the Swiss city of Lausanne, there will be held the annual Ukraine Mine Action Conference 2024 (UMAC-2024), jointly organized by Switzerland and Ukraine. Representatives of over 60 countries, international and non-governmental organizations will gather to discuss issues related to demining in Ukraine.
The participants in the forum will comment on the possibilities of combining demining processes with the social and economic recovery of the country. They will also discuss methods for faster inspections of potentially mined areas, as well as new funding models.
The conference will be opened by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Viola Amherd, and is a continuation of last year's International Donor Conference for Humanitarian Mine Action in Ukraine, held in Croatia, which was attended by representatives from 43 countries.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is proposing that the Ukrainian government issue bonds that would tie demining to the introduction of sustainable agricultural practices. In addition, interest from these bonds can be reinvested in demining and other activities.
There are vast territories in Ukraine littered with thousands of mines, cluster munitions and unexploded ordnance. According to Kiev's calculations, the complete demining of the country would cost 34 billion euros.
„Over the past year, Ukraine has done a lot of work in the field of mine countermeasures. We adopted the National Mine Action Strategy until 2033 and the Operational Plan.
We test innovative demining technologies with small teams of local developers and with the participation of technology giants. Ukraine has increased its mine action capacity with the support and expertise of partners.
In return, we offer solutions that can change global approaches to mine action. The Lausanne conference, supported by more than 60 countries and international organizations, is an important step in coordinating efforts to clear Ukraine.
We expect from Lausanne to bring both financial support and new demining equipment,” said Yulia Sviridenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy.