HALO employees take on many essential roles, from medics and survey specialists to drivers and mechanics. But our thousands of deminers who spend their days in minefields are at the heart of what we do.
To mark International Mine Awareness Day we asked deminers from across HALO to tell us how they felt when they found their first ever landmine.
Ana Albino, Deminer, Angola
“The first time I found a mine I was surprised with my reaction, because I didn't really feel scared, I reacted normally – I just asked the team leader to check and he confirmed it was a mine and it was the first of six mines I found in the same place! I felt very happy because I felt it like now there were fewer lives at risk in the local community.
Ronal Pinto, Deminer, Colombia
"The first device I found was in Labranzagrande, Boyacá Department. When I found it, I felt great satisfaction for eliminating the fear generated by these mines in my community and among my neighbours. And that I was helping to save lives in my region and in the rest of the country."
Lama Hajj, EOD Team Member, Syria
"When I saw my first mine, I was afraid and at the same time, I felt responsible to the people living in the area to remove the danger and clear their land. Their land is their source of livelihood. When we disposed of it, I felt very happy because we had protected the people and the farmers.”
Denys, Minefield Supervisor, Ukraine
“The first time I found a mine was in early 2018, it was an anti-vehicle mine. I had no hesitation or fear. I did everything in accordance with the drills I had been taught. I know that everyone working as a deminer wants to find and make safe any explosive ordnance. They are not afraid, they are trained and ready for this.”
Albertina Da Costa, Deminer, Angola
“The first time I found a mine I was scared and I thought of my daughter who did not like that I work in a minefield, she told me 'Mama mines explode and kill, you cannot work there'. But then I thought 'mission accomplished – now there is one less risk to the local people and that's why I am here'. I drank some water, got myself relaxed and continued. And now I am used to it."
Fjolla Podrimja, Deminer, Kosovo
“I was working in Gorozhup when I came across a PMA2 anti-personnel mine, I was very excited and immediately informed my team leader what I had found. I wasn't afraid that an accident might happen to me because we follow the rules and safety precautions in HALO – on the contrary I felt very happy because I had done my bit and removed a threat to my compatriots.”
Sayed Maqsood Hashimi, Team Leader, Afghanistan
"The first time I found a mine was in Logar province in 2018. It was placed by a road, where heavy vehicles loaded with rocks were passing. One vehicle had hit a mine in the same place, so when I found a mine, I felt very happy. Because the local people were very poor they had come to the area to collect stones - so we saved their lives and livelihoods and we were feeling very happy."
Samsam Mahamed Adan, Senior Section Commander, Somaliland
"The first time I saw a mine, it was an anti-personnel mine I was in shock. I had to step back and sit down for a minute. The supervisor saw me sitting and asked ‘What’s wrong?’ I couldn’t even answer, I was so much in shock! He poured some water on me until I could speak again and supported me while I completed the excavation. That experience encouraged me because even though I was so scared, I saved a life and that made me happy."
Mohammad Nazir Rahimi, Supervisor, Afghanistan
"I had been working for HALO for 15 days in an area that was a frontline in the war. It was a very dangerous place. Our team had witnessed four accidents and I was feeling very nervous. But once I found the mine, I felt that I had saved one of my compatriots from injury or death and I felt happy."
Natmany Inthisone, Mine Clearance Team Leader, Laos
"The first mine I excavated was found just a few meters from a villager’s house. I had trained for many months to be one of the very first deminers in Laos history, and I knew everything about the type of mine I had found, but seeing one for real, for the first time, I couldn’t help but be excited and afraid."
Nuss Perdomo, Deminer, Colombia
"The first explosive ordnance I found was an anti-personnel mine. When I saw it, I was scared, but felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that I was saving the lives of people who pass through these roads and that my work was allowing them to walk in safety."
Ovier de Jesús Gómez, Demining Senior Supervisor, Colombia
"I found my first landmine in Nariño, Antioquia only fours months after completing my demining training. When I first saw it I felt scared, I imagined what would happen if that device was activated. But I immediately conducted the procedure and this made me feel proud and happy because I knew I was saving someone's life."
Precious Munetsi, Deminer, Zimbabwe
“I felt proud and relieved at the same time. Relieved because I had safely identified a mine and proud because I could say I found a mine. I am one of the very few women in Zimbabwe who can talk of working with such a dangerous device. I felt powerful, like I could do anything!”
Shkëlzen Zeqa, Supervisor, Kosovo
“In April 2000, in the second week that I started working in the field, I found the first TMA5 anti-tank mine in the village of Prelep. That day, just for the first two minutes I was afraid and from that moment until today I have never experienced that feeling again. I feel satisfied every time I find a dangerous device, so far in total I have found more than 300 items.”
Farooq Al-Mustafa, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team Leader, Syria
“We identified a minefield in the countryside in Idleb. There, I saw an anti-personnel mine for the first time in agricultural land. I realised that one mistake could change the course of my life. I also realised the importance of our work to protect people and improve their livelihoods. Clearing land for local communities enables them to invest in their land and harvest crops.”
Kudakwashe Karubwa, Deminer, Zimbabwe
"I felt excited! It is one of the days I will never forget. I finally felt like I was part of the big mission to make Zimbabwe landmine free. My grandchildren will one day look back and say “wow my grandfather made our country safe”. It’s a great feeling!"
Nathana Kedtavong, Mine Clearance Team Leader, Laos
"The first landmine I encountered was a bounding mine laid in a forest next to an old military base. I recognised the immediate threat of being so close to such a dangerous item, but I was proud to know that this mine would not hurt anyone now because my team and I had found it."
Shkëlzen Zeqa, Supervisor, Kosovo
“In April 2000, in the second week that I started working in the field, I found the first TMA5 anti-tank mine in the village of Prelep. That day, just for the first two minutes I was afraid and from that moment until today I have never experienced that feeling again. I feel satisfied every time I find a dangerous device, so far in total I have found more than 300 items.”
Almaskhan Anua, Data and Geographical Information Systems Officer, Abkhazia
"It was in 2002 in a village called Merkula near the town of Ochamchira. That day I felt so happy, my emotions were off the charts. Honestly, I was really glad."
