Russian Emergencies Ministry has announced plans to take part in the landmine clearance operation in Syria together with the representatives of the Syrian government and the UN Mine Action Service.
On Friday, the Emergencies Ministry’s press service reported that between July 20 and July 27 a group of experts held meetings with representatives of the Syrian government and the regional branch of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). “Considering the position of the Syrian Government the Russian Emergencies Ministry is ready to join the humanitarian mine clearance operation under UNMAS aegis,” the press service announced.
In particular, the Russian ministry can take part in actual mine clearance and in training of local specialists.
The press service also added that Russia would continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Syrian Arab Republic and Syrian refugees in other countries.
Russian Emergencies Ministry is taking part in international landmine clearance operations since 1996. They have worked in such countries as Serbia, Nicaragua, Lebanon and others. In its latest release the ministry’s press service emphasized that Russian specialists are holding all works in line with international landmine clearance standards which allows them to participate in international operations and effectively coordinate their work with the United Nations.
Last week Russia started a joint operation with France to deliver humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Syrian region of Eastern Ghouta, as part of a UN Security Council resolution.
A poll conducted in late 2017 by the state-run VTSIOM agency showed that overwhelming majority of Russians – 75 percent think that their country should continue sending humanitarian aid to Syria. Forty-five percent said that Russia’s main ally in the Middle East should receive military-technical help and 44 percent backed diplomatic support. Just under a quarter – 22 percent – said that simple monetary aid would be preferable.
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