Hopes weapons playing cards can save lives in Ukraine
They'll help people to recognise and report the explosives littering their country
A Crawley-based explosives company is hoping a series of playing cards with a difference will help save lives in Ukraine post-conflict.
Fenix Insight has launched a crowdfunding campaign to launch a series of cards featuring images of unexploded bombs, landmines, grenades, missiles and shells.
They're to be handed to Ukrainians to get them to recognise the weapons as they begin to return to their homeland following Russian's invasion, which started in February.
Fenix Insight, who are explosive ordnance disposal experts, has already funded, designed and produced the first 10,000 packs themselves, but are now are looking to print 100,000 packs of the cards in all.
They have said the cards, which also contain text in both Ukrainian and English, will save lives and limbs by allowing military and civilians as well as aid workers to recognise the weapons and report them accurately, so that they can be cleared effectively.
Each card includes a QR code that links directly to the Fenix online munitions database, where people can learn more about the devices that threaten them.
All of the munitions featured on the cards have been used in the current conflict, but some are more dangerous than others. ‘Antipersonnel landmines’ and ‘submunitions’, for example, are categories of weapons banned under international law because of their potential to cause ‘unacceptable harm’ to civilians’ postconflict.
Colin King, Technical Director of Fenix Insight said,
“We all hope that hostilities will end soon, but whatever happens, the people of Ukraine will be living with the lethal legacy of abandoned and unexploded ordnance for many years.
Nowhere is safe; residential areas, workplaces, vital agricultural land and critical infrastructure will be littered with unexploded ammunition.
Awareness campaigns are simply the fastest and most cost-effective means of reducing casualties – we know they work.
Local people have already been amazingly generous in their support for Ukraine, and we’re now seeking their support for this important initiative.”