Author name: returntolife_admin

TS – technical survey of territories is carried out in order to collect evidence of the presence of explosive objects and develop an action plan for their removal so that the territory becomes safe for use. During a technical survey, sappers must adhere to the following basic principles: ● The safety of workers always comes first; ● Systematically collect evidence to accurately determine the condition of the territory; ● Check and clarify previously collected data to determine the level of risk. Sappers equipped with mine detectors, individual sapper kits and other necessary equipment are entitled to conduct a technical survey. The main tasks during a technical survey include: ● Search and detection of explosive objects using specialized technical means; ● Establishment and marking of safe boundaries in the territory; ● Development of an action plan for demining or clearing the territory; ● Assessment of social and economic factors that may affect the priority of our actions; ● Preparation of reporting documentation on the results of the survey.

We would like to tell you more about this process: NTS – non-technical survey of territories that may be potentially contaminated with explosive remnants of war (ERW). NTS is a key stage of humanitarian demining. This is the first step towards freeing Ukrainian lands from explosive remnants of war. This is a very responsible mission, because it is on NTs specialists that the further effective work of sappers depends. The main goal of NTS is to provide recommendations for planning subsequent operations to clear territories or remove them from the list of potentially dangerous areas (PNA) or suspected dangerous areas (SDA). As part of NTS, the following are carried out: ● Assessment of the danger of the presence of ERW in designated territories; ● Removal of territories from the register of contaminated or likely contaminated areas where there is no longer a risk of mines and ERW; ● Identify socio-economic and other factors that may influence prioritization of further actions. Based on the information collected, the main tasks are also: ● Classify areas according to hazard status; ● Identify and mark the boundaries of hazardous areas; ● Collect information on incidents and accidents in the area where the NTO is conducted; ● Develop strategies for effective cleanup of areas contaminated with GNP

American philanthropist Howard Buffett and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair discuss why clearing explosive remnants of war as quickly as possible is important not only for the country’s economy, but also for the food security of the entire world. According to estimates by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, Ukraine loses more than $11.2 billion or 5.6% of pre-war GDP every year due to mine danger. According to estimates by the World Bank, to completely clear Ukraine of mines, $34.6 billion will be needed. And also — a significant breakthrough in innovation, because with existing approaches, demining will take 100 years. The Economist full Article

These processes include: non-technical survey, technical survey, manual demining of the area, ORDB and public awareness. Certification is carried out by the State Certification Center of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. This procedure will confirm our compliance with the highest standards in the field of demining and will allow us to more effectively assist in the reconstruction of Ukraine. The certification process consists of several stages: application submission, document review, on-site assessment and issuance of certificates. The reconstruction of Ukraine begins with demining!

The main components of manual demining include: ● Maintaining the constant readiness of our personnel and equipment for demining operations; ● Searching, detecting and neutralizing mines, string lights and other explosive remnants of war using metal detectors and special equipment and transferring them to the authorized bodies for further destruction; ● Conducting internal quality control of the performed manual demining works; ● Creating safe conditions for the use of the territory after its clearance; ● Implementing measures for occupational safety and health; ● Accounting and reporting on the results of manual demining works; ● Conducting external quality control by authorized bodies; ● Transferring land to final beneficiaries. Manual demining works can be carried out separately or in combination with other demining methods. We would like to remind you that the Charity Foundation “Return to Life” is currently undergoing certification for 5 key processes of humanitarian demining: non-technical survey, technical survey, manual demining of the territory, ORDB and informing the population. Certification is carried out by the State Certification Center of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.