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OVERVIEW
In 2022, Ukraine experienced intense fighting, with a total of 5,237 armed clashes recorded. These clashes affected 15 oblasts in the north, east, and south of the country. The most intense fighting was recorded in Donetsk (56%), followed by Luhansk (15%), Kharkiv (11%), Kherson (6%), and Kyiv (4%). In addition to the armed clashes, there were 25,574 incidents involving explosive ordnance according to data from ACLED. These incidents were largely concentrated in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, with 80% occurring in the third and fourth quarters of 2022.
The MASC, from available data, projected that there are 10,663,357 persons in need of mine action services in Ukraine. Over 400 people have been reported injured or killed from explosive ordnance with an actual number considerably more. Women and children account for twenty-two percent of these fatalities. In 25 out of 122 conflict-affected raions more than 15% of residents report that they are worried about the possible existence of explosive devices. As part of the Ukraine Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) 2023, the MASC rated raions on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates no impact and 5 a catastrophic impact based on the Joint Intersectoral Analysis Framework-based scale. Accordingly, five raions in five oblasts are experiencing catastrophic levels of severity, seventeen raions are experiencing levels of severity 3, and eleven raions are experiencing levels of severity 4.
Despite facing various challenges in 2022, including security and safety concerns, mine action interventions still reached over 3.5 million people. Risk education accounted for the largest portion of these interventions, reaching 62% of the total population. Other activities that made up significant portions of the interventions in Ukraine included clearance (23%), non-technical surveys (5%), information dissemination (5%), capacity building/institutional support (4%), and victim assistance (1%).
Changes to the shape of the coordination bodies in mine action are anticipated in 2023. First, at a sub-national level, the MASC plans to have representation in Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Odesa. This will reflect hubs established by other sector clusters and respond to the demands for mine action services. At a national level, forums for donors and coordination above the MASC (focusing more on broader government priorities) are being explored. The technical working groups will also be strengthened. In addition to the existing EORE and IM working groups, Q1 2023 will see the establishment of an equipment working group and one dedicated to surveying activities. Across the sector increased operational capacity will occur. SESU plans to increase the complement of its workforce to 1500, existing international operators will further expand their capacities and additional organizations currently awaiting accreditation will come online to contribute to operational activities. This requires greater coordination and improved planning to target resources for clearance, survey, victim assistance, and risk education activities with greater deliberation, particularly in accessible areas in Chernihivska, Sumska, Kharkivska, Kyivska, and liberated areas in Kherson, Mykolaivska and Donetsk.
Information Management will continue to be the cornerstone to inform decision-making and record progress. The IM working group, chaired by GICHD, works closely with the MoD, NMAA Secretariat, SESU, MAC, and other partners to implement the IMSMA CORE system for capturing and sharing data on mine action in Ukraine. In addition to IMSMA, ActivityInfo is also used for reporting 5W activities within the OCHA-led Cluster System. Previously, a harmonized Excel database was used, but in September 2022, the consolidated 5W humanitarian data was migrated to the ActivityInfo system. This web-based platform is secure and has facilitated improved collaboration and enhanced data collection within the MASC forum. In addition to 5W reporting, ActivityInfo also accommodates the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and monitoring framework for Ukraine.
In early 2023 the response plan will be updated as more mine action capacities are deployed. The current plan only corresponds to secured funds of accredited organizations and with the sector continuing to grow operational targets should be adjusted to be more ambitious.