Japan handed over equipment and protective gear for sappers to the State Emergency Service

The State Emergency Service received equipment and supplies for humanitarian demining from the Japanese government. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) purchased four pyrotechnic vehicles, 12 minibuses for transporting personnel, and 100 sets of protective equipment for female deminers.

The handover ceremony was attended by Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine; Ihor Bezkaravaynyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, Bohdan Drapiaty, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Head of the State Emergency Service Andrii Danyk, as well as JICA Chief Representative in Ukraine Osamu Hattori and Senior Director of the JICA Office for Peacebuilding Ayako Oi.

“Japan was among the first countries to support the Made in Ukraine initiative in the field of humanitarian demining. The equipment presented here today is entirely made in Ukraine, such as protective gear, or partially localized. This is important not only in terms of humanitarian demining and supporting the capabilities of the State Emergency Service, but also for our economy. This is an order for our production, it provides jobs, it generates taxes, and our economy becomes stronger," said Ihor Bezkaravaynyi.

Pyrotechnic machines are extremely important for the work of sappers, as they can be used to remove and transport unexploded ordnance on site. And additional minibuses mean greater mobility for operational teams.

"I would like to highlight the purchase of 100 sets of protective equipment for female deminers. This initiative is the result of the work of the Gender Aspects in Mine Action group, coordinated by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, the Canadian Embassy, and FSD. It is a practical consideration of the gender component in humanitarian demining. I would like to thank the Japanese government for supporting this request from the State Emergency Service," emphasized Ihor Bezkaravaynyi.

Japan's contribution to humanitarian demining has amounted to more than USD 130 million since the start of the full-scale invasion. The lion's share of the funding is for the purchase of equipment and supplies for mine action.