Last year you transformed the lives of over one million people living in fear of landmines and the explosive debris of war. Thanks to you, tens of thousands of landmines were destroyed, for good. But this is just the start of the story, once the mines are gone confidence is restored. Minefields can become farmers fields so families can put food on the table. Vital resources like health facilities and clean water can be accessed safely. Children no longer risk crossing mined land to reach school. Life begins again.
Together we are helping some of the the world's most vulnerable families get back on their feet. In the 25 countries where HALO works, we become part of the community, creating jobs where opportunities are scarce—98 percent of our workforce are local staff. This wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our donors—from governments and institutions, corporations and foundations, to individuals donating or raising money for HALO, you are the difference that saves lives and transforms futures.
Transforming Lives Together
To mark Mine Awareness Day we bring you stories of the difference you have made in each of the countries where we work across the world. In the current global crisis, your support is appreciated more than ever so we can continue to protect families already struggling to survive. Thank you.
Following the accidental explosion of the Primorsky weapons store in Abkhazia, we have cleared thousands of bombs and explosives from homes and gardens. Elena's grandchildren, Agop and Milena can now play in safety and the villagers are slowly rebuilding their lives.
“HALO has come and cleared our kitchen garden and the village of shells. I would like to thank everyone at HALO who cared about us. It was so terrible but now everything is safe.”
Elena, Primorsky village, Abkhazia
In Afghanistan, minefields have become farmer’s fields. After 25 years of living with the threat of landmines, Dalwat Hussein and the families in his village are planting crops and gardens on land cleared by HALO’s teams.
"Since HALO started clearing landmines around our village, our lives have been totally transformed. Now we have good job opportunities and our livelihoods and income have improved."
Dalwat Hussein, Afghanistan
In Angola, Cristina and her sister are not only clearing landmines and making their country safe—their jobs with HALO allow them to support their mother and disabled brother.
“Since we started working, we have managed to send money home to our mother. We have already started to build her a new house.”
Cristina, Deminer, HALO
For the first time in years, Seur Somphos and her family have rice in their storage shed. Before the landmines were cleared they couldn’t use their land to grow enough rice to feed them all and had to forage for vegetables.
“Now we can save money to buy fish and vegetables and support our children to study. We don’t have to worry so much.”
Seur Somphos, Ponsay Cheung, Cambodia
HALO’s risk education lessons mean the children in Rosa Amelia Jasue’s class know how to keep themselves safe from the landmines and explosives left behind by years of conflict.
“The children used to come to school wearing little necklaces made from bullets and cartridges! Now there is no need to tell them to be careful, they tell each other to remember the HALO people.”
Rosa Amelia Jascue, teacher, Sekyi School, Colombia
Over the last three years, working in partnership with the Salvadoran Armed Forces and National Civil Police, we destroyed over 250,000 bullets, 2000 guns and 3,800 explosives in El Salvador, creating a safer future for families who live in daily fear of armed violence.
The families of Chonto village can live in safety once again after our teams destroyed 24 aircraft bombs that were discovered alongside the wreckage of a Russian aircraft shot down during the Russian–Georgian conflict.
By training members of the armed forces, like Captain Robin Leonardo Ajcalon Guoz, how to safely destroy dangerous weapons and ammunition—together we are reducing the number of weapons in circulation to create a more stable and secure future for Guatemala.
“I know first-hand the dangers of badly stored ammunition after witnessing the explosion of a military store. I want to be able to teach my peers in the army so that we can all contribute towards reducing violence in our country.”
Captain Robin Leonardo Ajcalon Guoz, El Salvador
I knew that if the bomb exploded it would destroy half of my newly rebuilt home. Now HALO has removed it, some of my worry is lifted.
Mohamad, father of six, Iraq
By working with the government of Guinea Bissau to secure ammunition stockpiles and weapons, together we are keeping families safe from accidental explosions and stopping weapons falling into the wrong hands.
Following training with HALO on Armoury Store Management, Wendy Yoseline Torres of the Honduran National Police Force is putting her learning into practice, ensuring weapons are stored or destroyed safely and building a secure future for her country.
"On a personal level, I gained further knowledge and understanding of the importance of my career choice. On a professional level, I am able to put what I have learned into practice.”
Wendy Yoseline Torres, National Police, Honduras
Mohamad no longer has to fear for the safety of his family after we removed an unexploded bomb from his roof. We are working across his neighbourhood in Baiji to destroy the dangerous IEDs and explosives left behind when ISIS overran the city so that families can rebuild their homes and lives.
“I knew that if the bomb exploded it would destroy half of my newly rebuilt home. Now it is gone, some of my worry is lifted.”
Mohamad, Baiji, Iraq
Today, Bozhadir can grow everything his family needs in his garden but it used to be littered with cluster bombs—dropped during in the war. Since 1999, we have cleared tens of thousands of these explosives from gardens, fields and school yards so no one has to live in fear.
“I want to grow everything so that we don’t have to buy much from the market. Our land will give us everything we need.”
Bozhadir, Kosovo
The villagers of Nonsomboun no longer have to fear the 750lb aircraft bomb that was discovered just 20 metres from the nearest house. Our teams worked for 53 days to ensure it was safely destroyed.
With the help of 100 HALO staff, 150 villagers, 4,000 tonnes of sand 200,000 sandbags the bomb was destroyed.
Like many urban areas in Libya, Block 600 neighbourhood in Sirte has been decimated by the conflict– leaving rubble littered with dangerous explosives. Our teams have made the area safe so families can leave their homes without fear of accident.
“It is my duty to clean up the explosives debris in Sirte. It is my city and I want my children and grandchildren to grow up here. I want them to have a better life here in Libya.”
Hussain, Operations Assistant, Libya
Before if someone was ill, we had to carry them across the mountains on our shoulders to get help. Now the ambulance can come right to the village.
Siciid, Papaya farmer, Bihin Duule, Somaliland
Risk education taught Naw Chaw how to stay safe from the landmines left behind when her village was overrun by soldiers. Naw Chaw took shelter in a temporary camp but was too frightened of the landmines to go back home. Following HALO’s lessons, she is planning her return.
“I saw a soldier and one of the animals injured by landmines. I was scared what would happen when we returned home but then HALO came to teach us how to stay safe and report suspicious items.”
Naw Chaw, Myanmar
Hamest and Armine live in the village of Kusapat in Nagorno Karabakh. By clearing the landmines from their village we can ensure they can grow up in a safe and peaceful community.
Clearing the Golebed road of landmines means Siciid and the villagers of Bihin Duule are no longer cut off. Emergency medical aid can reach the village and local families have been able to set up a twice-weekly collection to sell their vegetables at Berbera market.
“Before if someone was ill, we had to carry them across the mountains on our shoulders to get help. Now the ambulance can come right to the village.”
Siciid, Papaya farmer, Somaliland
Now I wear both pairs of shoes and play with my friends.
Omar age five from Syria. He lost his leg when a rocket struck his home.
Tavarasha and his brother fled their land in 1990 during the Civil War. Tens of thousands of landmines laid during the fighting meant it was too dangerous to return. We have been clearing the vast Muhamalai minefield section-by-section and, in February 2020, Tavarasha and his family were finally able to come home.
“We had to leave our land in 1990 because of the fighting. My brother was also injured in the war. Today I am so happy to be home after such a long time away.”
Tavarasha, Muhamalai, Sri Lanka
Omar was just one year old when a rocket struck his home in Syria. He lost his leg in the blast and his father was killed. Displaced by the fighting the family struggled to get support for Omar’s injury, until they visited the HALO/Hand in Hand rehabilitation centre in Armanaz. The team were able to fit Omar with a prosthetic leg and today he can run and play with his friends.
“Now I wear both pairs of shoes and play with my friends.”
Omar, age five, Syria
As the fighting moves back and forth, villages in Ukraine have become battlefields on the frontline. We are clearing the landmines and explosives left behind to ensure families stay safe, as well as providing vital job opportunities so father’s like Volodymyr can put food on the table.
“We had to slaughter most of our cattle, because we couldn’t feed them anymore. Now I have a stable job and I can finally feed my family.”
Volodymyr, Deminer, HALO
At the site of Christ’s Baptism eight Churches—cut off by landmines for over fifty years—can become places of worship once again. With global support, we have cleared the landmines that surround this holy site, a symbol of peace and reconciliation in a region troubled by division.
"Landmines mean a field of war and if the mines are cleared, it becomes a field of peace."
Fr. Francesco Patton, Franciscan Church
Our teams are being trained to clear the lethal landmines and explosives that litter towns and cities as the civil war continues to rage.
We have also produced the first recorded data sets, mapping the presence of explosives so local people can be warned to avoid dangerous areas until we can begin work to remove the threat for good.
Rosa no longer has to fear for her family’s future after HALO cleared the minefield next to her home. Her husband also secured a job as a deminer with HALO, doubling the family’s income. Since 2013, HALO have destroyed 100,000 landmines—saving and transforming lives.
“We now have no problem feeding our family and it’s safe to go to the water. I can’t show you the happiness I feel inside.”
Rosa, Chirarange, Zimbabwe
Our life-saving work is only made possible thanks to the amazing individuals, governments, foundations, corporations and partners who support us. On Mine Awareness Day we would like to thank all each and every one of you. Together we can transform lives.
Governments & Institutions
• Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs • European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operation • European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations • EU Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace • European Union • German Federal Foreign Office • Government of Canada • Government of Japan • Government of The Netherlands • Government of Switzerland • Irish Aid • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland • New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs • The United States Department of State • United States Agency for International Development • UK Conflict Security & Stability Fund • UK Department for International Development • United Nations Development Programme • United Nations Mine Action Service • United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs • United Nations Office for Project Services •
Corporations & Foundations
• BP • ENI • Oak Foundation • Sonangol • World Without Mines •
Public and Private Donors
Thank you to every one of you who supports our work, including those donors who wish to remain anonymous. Together we are making landmines history.
