The German Federal Government allocates EUR 200,000 to the HALO Trust non-governmental mine clearance organization for the demining of the territory following explosions of ammunition in Balakliya (Kharkiv region) in March this year.

"The Federal Government promotes the clearance of the accident site in Balakliya from unexploded ordnance. It supports the world's largest mine clearance organization, HALO, by purchasing an armored vehicle that can effectively neutralize and eliminate explosive ordnance scattered on a large area as a result of the March 23 explosion. Germany provides EUR 200,000 for this purpose," the German Embassy in Ukraine said on Friday.

The embassy noted that Germany had been supporting the HALO Trust since 2016 as part of mine clearance in eastern Ukraine with a total of EUR 1.5 million.

About 100,000 square meters have been cleared so far at the expense of German funds.

As reported, explosions at ammunition storage depots near Balakliya, Kharkiv region, began on March 23, 2017. The blasts damaged 117 multi-storey residential buildings, 229 private households, two schools, two kindergartens, eight social facilities, as well as 22 infrastructure and industry facilities. About 20,000 people were evacuated. Ninety-three families were left homeless.