Summer is the time for school holidays and children’s activities and travels. It’s also the right time to talk to your child about mine safety and explain why it’s crucial to follow it. Due to the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, Ukraine has become one of the most mine-polluted countries in the world. Explosive devices can be found anywhere – on the roadside, in the fields, forests, or forest paths.
Various hostile mines are often difficult to spot; they come in green colors like grass or gray and brown colors, cleverly disguised in the soil and fallen leaves.
Experts from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) suggest remembering three safety rules: do not approach, do not touch, dial 101!
Usually, mined areas are marked with red and white tape or special signs: red triangles or squares. The tape or sign “Caution, mines!” indicates that the area is highly dangerous, and people should not proceed further.
However, these markings are not always present. Therefore, it is essential to teach children that if they find an unfamiliar object, they should not approach it and immediately inform adults while dialing 101.
According to the SESU, it will take about 10 years to completely demine the affected areas. The most mine-polluted regions are Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts.
We recommend learning more about “StopMina” https://stopmina.dk/ – an educational project aimed at increasing children’s awareness and knowledge of the risks related to explosive objects, created by the Danish Refugee Council.