Donetsk, Apr 4 - DAN. Four hundred and forty people have been killed or wounded in mine or UXO explosions in the Donetsk People’s Republic since 2016, the DPR Ombudswoman’s Office told the Donetsk News Agency on Thursday.

“Beginning from 2016, 440 people have been killed or wounded in incidents involving mines or unexploded ordnance,” it said.

The casualties include 21 children. The record has been kept since 2016. These are mostly incidents in DPR frontline areas or the towns which saw the most fierce fighting,” the Ombudswoman’s Office added.

On December 8, 2005, the UN General Assembly proclaimed International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. It is marked annually on April 4. The organisation called for promoting demining in the countries where UXO posed a serious threat to security, life and health of the civilian population and impeded their socio-economic development.*jk