Monday, July 1 2019 14:09

ArmInfo. The second group of sappers from Armenia on June 16 left for Syria to participate in the humanitarian operation. Ara Martirosyan, Chief Inspector of the  Center for Humanitarian Demining and Examination, told the press  conference on July 1.

He noted that over the past period of time, sappers had detected 29  min. And non-explosive objects. "In Syria, our sappers work in 5  dangerous zones. The second group for the past period of time cleared  about 2,000 square meters. The first group has already managed to  clear 34,690 square meters. The total area of the mined area is 1  million 315 thousand square meters. This is not the whole of Syria's  mined territory and that is the territory where our sappers work in 5  dangerous zones of the country, "he stressed.

Martirosyan also noted that the number of sappers is unlikely to be  increased, since a certain number of specialists can work  simultaneously in mined areas, and at the moment there is no sense in  increasing their number. "Since all the sappers who are in Syria are  civilian people, if hostilities resume in Aleppo, they will  immediately return home," he said. In conclusion, the Chief Inspector  of the State Public Organization of Public Organization "Center for  Humanitarian Demining and Expertise" noted that life in Syria is  gradually being restored.

In turn, the director of the <Center for Humanitarian Demining and  Expertise of Armenia> Ruben Arakelyan noted that the Russian side is  providing special assistance in the humanitarian operation in Syria.   In particular, it was the representatives of the Russian side who  provided the plane to Armenia, on which a humanitarian mission with  all the necessary equipment was sent to Aleppo. "We are also  cooperating with the Russian side on the spot. It is the Russian  military who are delivering our sappers from their place of residence  to mined areas and back," Arakelyan said

He also noted that Armenian doctors, who provide the necessary  assistance to all victims without exception, also occupy a special  place in the humanitarian mission. "Our doctors provide assistance to  both the representatives of the Armenian community and the Syrians.  The residents of Syria received the representatives of our  humanitarian mission with great enthusiasm," Arakelyan said.  

Arakelyan also noted that there are no hidden political implications  in the activities of the Armenian mission. "The Syrian government  appealed to our government, after which Armenia began to send  humanitarian groups there. For the most part, our sappers work in  Armenian-populated regions and help the Armenian community of Syria  to return to normal life. At the first escalation of hostilities, our  humanitarian mission will return to Armenia "he stressed, noting that  each shift lasts 4 months.  To note, the first group, consisting of  humanitarian sappers and doctors, went to Syria on February 8 and  returned to Armenia, after which the second group went there on June  16. Representatives of the Armenian mission carry out activities on  humanitarian demining, mine awareness of the population, provision of  medical services in settlements free from hostilities.