In a step aimed at accelerating post-conflict recovery, Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh received a Ukrainian delegation in Damascus headed by Ihor Bezkar Avayni, director of Ukraine’s Humanitarian Center for Mine Action and War Remnants, along with Ukraine’s deputy minister of economy and agriculture.
The talks focused on the urgent need to address the widespread presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) across Syria, and on strengthening the National Mine Action Center (NMAC) through Ukrainian technical and institutional expertise.
Leveraging Ukraine’s Experience
During a consultative meeting, both sides discussed mechanisms to enhance the operational capacity of the NMAC. Discussions centered on benefiting from Ukraine’s experience in mine clearance gained during the ongoing war, particularly in technical operations, logistical coordination and institutional structuring.
Saleh stressed that reconstruction efforts cannot move forward without comprehensive clearance operations. “Reconstruction projects cannot begin until surveying and full clearance of areas contaminated with unexploded ordnance are completed,” he said, emphasizing that civilian safety remains the ministry’s top priority.
He outlined ongoing efforts developing a national needs assessment map, strengthening the administrative framework of the NMAC, training personnel in advanced technologies and establishing unified national standards and protocols for both domestic and international actors operating in the sector. Saleh noted that Ukraine has emerged as a global leader in demining, making its expertise particularly valuable to Syria’s recovery efforts.
Ukraine Signals Readiness to Assist
Avayni affirmed Ukraine’s willingness to provide comprehensive support, stating that cooperation in mine action would help save civilian lives and create safer conditions for economic activity and investment.
He added that a practical action plan is under discussion to modernize the legislative, legal and administrative environment governing the NMAC, improving coordination with international organizations and relevant stakeholders.
The meeting builds on previous discussions held during Saleh’s participation in the Fourth International Summit on Food Security in Kyiv late last year. At that time, both sides explored avenues for transferring Ukraine’s advanced demining technologies and surveying expertise to Syria, with a particular focus on rehabilitating agricultural land and facilitating broader reconstruction efforts.
