Today, Ukraine is the most mine-polluted country in the world – the UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine

The UN is participating in humanitarian demining in Ukraine, to allow farmers resume their regular field-works in the frontline regions.

This was stated by Denise Brown, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, during a speech at the 15^th annual Kyiv Security Forum, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s “Open Ukraine” Foundation.

“Efforts on humanitarian demining have begun. Ukraine is currently the most heavily mine-polluted country in the world. And until we can ascertain that all agricultural lands are safe, naturally farmers will not be able to return to their daily chores,” she said.

Denise Brown emphasized that the main focus of the UN representatives in Ukraine is to work at the frontline and in the de-occupied territories.

“Our main operational objective is to provide practical assistance to communities some 20 km away from the front line. We run operational evaluation of the situation and assess the level of destruction. The UN reports document terror, displacement and suffering of people, as well as all the endurance that people demonstrate,” she added.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine also emphasized that the organization disbursed unprecedented assistance to Ukraine.

In financial terms, this is the largest humanitarian assistance that we have ever provided. In 2022, $3.7 billion allocated for 17 million Ukrainians remaining within the country. In addition, those who fled Ukraine receive support at their respective current locations abroad. Assistance includes money, food, water, shelter, medical and sanitary facilities,” said Denise Brown.

She also emphasized that in order to ensure the appropriate level of support to Ukrainians, the staff numbers in the organization increased several times: “There were about 200 people working for us, now we have almost 3,000, and 60% of them are Ukrainians. That is, Ukrainians are the UN, and the UN is Ukraine.”

Noteworthy, the 15^th annual Kyiv security forum “For Our and Your Freedom/ Fighting for NATO” will be held on May 25-26, 2023, with the participation of well-known international figures. In particular, at the Forum, the KSF Security Council will be established and a policy document will be adopted with recommendations for the NATO summit in Vilnius to be held this July.