FSD Logo - White

School rehabilitation continues despite the crisis

Ukraine has been in quarantine since 12th March. The COVID-19 crisis has added extra pressure to the already limited economy in the east of the country, which has been enduring armed conflict for over six years. This has caused a collapse of basic services in a number of communities and locals have had to rely on the services of neighbouring villages, making them heavily dependent on public transport. Since the area locked down due to the pandemic, people who were already vulnerable have seen their situation go from bad to worse.

Despite these difficulties, FSD teams are continuing to provide aid to the schools and kindergartens located along the contact line in the east of Ukraine. They are continuing to visit and assess the needs of educational institutions, even if they are closed. These needs include a lack of teaching resources, damaged infrastructure, and children and teachers exposed to the risk of explosive remnants of war on the walk to school. FSD assesses the needs of each school individually, so as to provide them with the materials they need and the support required in preparation for when they next re-open.

Recently, after having supplied sewing machines to Chasiv Yar School 15 in Bakhmutsky Raion, a member of our team came up with the idea of encouraging teachers to support communities affected by the crisis by producing reusable masks with the new machines.

producing reusable masks with the new machines

Within the space of three days, they had made more than 100 masks! Since then, teachers have been producing masks for schools but also for at-risk populations. Wearing masks is mandatory in Ukraine and this constitutes a certain financial investment given that the budget for it is equal to 1% of a retiree’s monthly pension. These free masks distributed by our teams therefore offer considerable benefit to the old and vulnerable population in these areas.

Over the next few months the project will concentrate mainly on material aid with a view to ensuring that children and their teachers emerge from the crisis in a better position.

distribution of reusable masks in Ukraine by FSD
newsletter

Where is FSD currently working in Ukraine? What does a landmine look like? Answers to your questions, once a month.

  • News from the field
  • Demining videos
  • Interviews with experts
  • Events
  • Job offers
Iraqi deminer trained to the use of a detector

Those articles might interest you

Clearing Mines After An Explosion

Clearing Mines After An Explosion

Ukraine: After the explosion of an ammunition storage area, time has come to begin clearance activities. Yahidne, a village two hours north of Kiev, is now sadly known as a "martyr village" of the war in Ukraine. More than 300 inhabitants, including about 60...

read more
Machine gun ammunition at the waste dump

Machine gun ammunition at the waste dump

In eastern Ukraine, the poverty caused by the armed conflict has led many people to collect and sell scrap metal to earn a little more money. This is a risky activity, which exposes them to landmines and unexploded ordnance. One day someone brought me an old bucket...

read more
“We all found at least one old horseshoe”

“We all found at least one old horseshoe”

In Ukraine, around 20 FSD deminers are currently working in the Donbass region, where an armed conflict has been going on since 2014. Roman, Stanislav and Igor are part of the team deployed in Stara Mykolaivka. A few years ago, this locality used to be a Ukrainian...

read more
The challenges of winter demining

The challenges of winter demining

In some of the countries where FSD operates, climatic conditions fluctuate between extremes. The dry and scorching summers are followed by harsh winters where snow and rain fall in abundance. These variations not only greatly affect the daily lives of the inhabitants...

read more
Preventing accidents through social media

Preventing accidents through social media

In order to raise awareness on the risks of explosive devices among affected populations, mine action organizations traditionally make “live” presentations. Today, digital means, and in particular social networks, make it possible to reach more people and thus promote...

read more
Stay informed!Get the latest news on our mine action operations in Ukraine, Iraq and elsewhere.