Over 60 countries and international organizations: The annual Conference on Humanitarian Demining in Ukraine–2024 has started in Lausanne
The two-day Annual Conference on Humanitarian Demining in Ukraine 2024 (UMAC-2024) has started in Switzerland. Representatives from over 60 countries and international organizations arrived in Lausanne at the invitation of Ukraine and Switzerland, the co-organizers of the event.
The conference was opened by President of Switzerland Viola Amherd and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The event was also attended by Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko, Federal Councillor and Head of Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia Gordan Grlić-Radman, Senior Minister and Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority Dr. Ly Thuch, Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshifumi Tsuge, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs of the U.S. Department of State Stanley L. Brown, and others.
“Ukraine is now one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. This is a critical challenge both for Ukrainians and for the international community. The first issue is security. If no action is taken, the number of victims could rise to 9,000 by 2030. The second issue is economic recovery. Our research, conducted with the Tony Blair Institute, shows that economic losses due to mines reach $11.2 billion annually. The third issue is global food security. Before the invasion, Ukraine fed 400 million people worldwide, now supply chains are disrupted. It is immensely valuable that we are not facing these challenges alone, as over 60 countries and international organizations, our friends and partners, stand with us. We feel your support and are very grateful for the help already provided and expected,” said Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko, addressing the UMAC-2024 participants.
The organizers prepared an intense program for the conference participants in Lausanne, ranging from informative panels to virtual reality demonstrations of demining. A series of bilateral meetings are also planned as part of UMAC-2024.
Information and additional materials about UMAC-2024 can be found on the website of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the website of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland.