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Living without fear: why demining is important
Almost a third of Ukraine’s territory is potentially contaminated with explosive devices. They remain after the fighting in fields, in yards, near schools and hospitals. Returning to normal life - farming, education, reconstruction - is impossible without clearing the land of mines, shells, and cluster munitions. Humanitarian demining is not only about equipment and skills, but also about human lives, which depend on the careful, invisible majority of the work. In this article, we explain
how deminers work, what demining is in terms of process, and how you can help them through a charitable contribution.
how deminers work, what demining is in terms of process, and how you can help them through a charitable contribution.
Who are deminers and what they do
Humanitarian deminers are specially trained professionals who clear areas of explosive ordnance to ensure the safety of civilians. Their work begins after the end of hostilities, but the danger does not disappear. Unlike military engineers who work in active combat zones, humanitarian deminers focus on restoring living spaces: schools, residential areas, pastures, and agricultural land.
These specialists do not only find and defuse mines. They survey areas, document findings, coordinate with local administrations, and educate the public on the rules of safe behavior. All this is done within strict international standards that require certification of each stage. Their mission is to return the land to people where they can safely walk, work, and play.
Most deminers have years of experience, technical education, and daily practice in conditions that require maximum concentration. Each region has its own specifics - the work in forests is different than in open areas, and in cities the situation is even more complicated due to the risk of secondary damage. Deminers work in teams, often in dangerous conditions, with no room for error.
How humanitarian demining works
The humanitarian demining process is divided into several stages. The first of these is a non-technical survey - analytical work with data on hostilities, testimonies of local residents, photographs and maps. The purpose of this stage is to identify areas of potential danger. The sappers record the coordinates, create maps and plan further work.
This is followed by a technical survey. Metal detectors, ground penetrating radar, and sometimes specialized drones are used. In some cases, armored vehicles are used for mechanized demining. If the terrain allows, machines that can quickly clear large areas are used, but the final decision on the safety of the territory is always made by a person.
After the items are identified, the neutralization phase begins. This is the most risky part of the work. UXOs can be unstable, camouflaged, with a triggered or modified mechanism. Deminers often work in difficult weather conditions, in contaminated areas or near civilian objects. Each dangerous item is removed or destroyed by a controlled explosion at a special landfill.
Upon completion of the work, the site is checked again. A final report is created, based on which the area is officially recognized as safe. Only then can it be used for its intended purpose.
In addition to the classical stages, humanitarian sappers perform another important function - informing. This can include lectures for local residents, distribution of leaflets, and integration of hazard warning systems into mobile applications. Working with the population reduces the risk of repeated trauma and helps to avoid tragedies among children and the elderly.
How the foundation supports humanitarian sappers
The International Unity Movement Charitable Foundation is an important link in the humanitarian demining system in Ukraine. Its activities are focused on strengthening the capacity of demining units. The Foundation purchases modern equipment such as metal detectors, navigation systems, communications equipment, and engineering machinery. Special attention is paid to equipment: helmets, body armor, footwear, protective suits - all of which are critical for the safety of sappers.
The foundation also finances the development of digital tools that increase the efficiency of demining. Among them is a mobile application with an interactive map showing cleared and dangerous areas. The data is transmitted in real time from devices carried by deminers. This allows not only to coordinate the work of the teams, but also to form an open system of warning the public about mine danger.
In addition, the Foundation supports training programs for future deminers and promotes safe behavior among the public. In cooperation with the State Emergency Service and other partner organizations, it creates educational campaigns that teach how to act when detecting suspicious objects and how to avoid danger.
The Foundation also acts as a focal point for sharing experience: it organizes meetings, unites initiatives, and shares best practices with partners. Thanks to this, Ukrainian demining practice is becoming an example for the whole world.
Why assistance through the fund matters
Every hryvnia channelled through the fund turns into a real action - a purchased device, equipment for a sapper, a new area cleared of mines. But it’s not just about material things. This is a contribution to the peace of mind of families returning to their villages; to the safety of children going to school; to the stability of communities that can develop without fear.
The Foundation operates transparently: all income and expenditures are documented, reports are published, and a system of verification of partner initiatives is in place. This ensures that the assistance does not dissolve in bureaucracy but works for a specific result.
Having a permanent source of support is an opportunity to plan long-term programs. Mine action is not completed in a week. It takes years of work that requires sustainable funding. Support through the foundation allows us to act strategically: create new teams, open training centers, and expand the geography of operations.
In addition to financial assistance, it is important to talk about demining. Information support, dissemination of reliable data, and countering disinformation all contribute to demining. It is through foundations that such voices become public, stronger, and able to influence the course of events.
Supporting a foundation is not just an action from the present. It is an investment in the generations that will grow up without fear of what is hidden in the grass or underground.
How to get involved
You can support humanitarian demining right now. A form for transferring funds is available on the foundation’s website - one-time or monthly. You can choose a convenient method: bank transfer, card payment, cryptocurrency. All contributions are recorded, and donors can receive a transfer confirmation.
There is also an opportunity to join the initiatives as a partner: to provide equipment, post information materials, or become a volunteer. Even a small contribution is part of a bigger cause that saves lives.
Sometimes help is not money, but time, connections, and knowledge. And the foundation is the space where each of these resources becomes powerful.
Bottom line.
De-mining is not a job in the shadows, but the basis for the security of our present and future. Every day, sappers risk their lives so that others can live in peace. Their work is difficult, hard and often invisible. That is why they need our support.
The International Unity Movement Foundation has created a reliable mechanism of assistance: transparent, technically savvy, and result-oriented. By joining the initiative, you are not just doing a good deed - you are becoming part of a movement that is bringing life back to the Ukrainian land.
