Scots charity given funding to support work clearing debris in Ukraine

A Scottish charity that helps clear landmines and explosives has been awarded £300,000 to support its work in Ukraine.

The HALO trust, which has headquarters in Dumfries and Galloway, helps countries recover after conflict.

Specially trained staff clear dangerous debris from warzones, dealing with unexploded ordnance.

The charity also builds safe arms stores and systems for securing guns after the fighting.

Their expertise is being used in Ukraine following the invasion of Russia earlier this year.

Funding is being made available to the trust by the Scottish Government.

Neil Gray, minister with special responsibility for refugees from Ukraine, gave his thanks to the charity for the work that they are doing.

“When the Ukrainian Consul General told the Scottish Government that clearing mines and unexploded ordnance was a priority for his government, we knew we needed to help,” said Gray.

“As well as saving lives, the work to be carried out by The HALO trust will improve food security in Ukraine by enabling farmers to safely farm their land again.

“The Scottish Government is already doing as much as it can to resettle displaced Ukrainian refugees in Scotland.

“However, it is imperative that we turn our attentions to the situation in Ukraine itself, and I would like to thank the HALO trust for taking on this essential work.”

Calvin Ruysen, the HALO Trust’s director of programmes, explained that the funding will help contribute to growing their trained workforce.

“We are extremely grateful to the Scottish Government for supporting our work in Ukraine,” he said.

“The humanitarian need there is great and we are rapidly expanding our teams to deal with contamination from landmines, cluster bombs and other explosives left behind when the fighting moves on.

“The Scottish Government’s support will contribute to growing our workforce of trained Ukrainians so they can get out on the ground to make more of their own communities safe.”