On 15 June 2022, H.E. Tarja Fernández, Ambassador of the Republic of Finland, accompanied by Mr. Habibulhaq Javed UNMAS Chief of Mine Action Programme in #Syria visited Darayya, in Western Ghouta of Rural Damascus, to observe the Explosive Ordnance clearance project implemented by the “Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise”.
During the visit, CHDE Project Manager, Mr. Arkadi Tonoyan briefed H.E about the scope of work envisaged by the program and the achievements reached so far. Since the start of the Explosive Ordnance clearance project in December 2021, the teams have cleared over 382,000 sqm of mainly agricultural land and identified 265 items of Explosive Ordnance. The ultimate goal is to release a total of one million sqm of agricultural land through this project.
The ambassador visited the site and was briefed about the implemented activities and the clearance methods and also tried using one of the detection techniques at the testing area.
Ms. Fernández talked to several farmers who thanked the “CHDE” staff for clearing the area and making it safer to continue the agricultural and cattle breeding activities in lands cleared from the threats of Explosive Ordnance.
The ambassador and UNMAS Chief highly appreciated the activities implemented by the professional staff of “CHDE”.
