The need to protect civilians from conflict has never been more urgent, warned a humanitarian landmine clearance organisation, as world leaders gather in Munich to discuss an increasingly volatile world.
Major General Rob Thomson, Chief Strategy Officer of The HALO Trust, stressed its commitment to saving lives and protecting livelihoods from the growing threat of mines and other unexploded remnants of war.
"Despite the well-publicised global downturn in aid budgets, HALO deminers remain on the frontline; clearing lethal ordnance from villages, towns and countryside – even in countries where fighting still rages on", he said.
"Their work is the critical first step in rebuilding shattered communities. It means refugees can return home, farmers can work their land, and children can go to school in safety. We're here at the Munich Security Conference to demonstrate that clearing the remnants of war delivers more than aid – it is a vital defence and stabilisation investment that prevents future conflict and promotes economic recovery.
"The post-war management and disposal of weapons and explosives is also essential, preventing them from falling into the wrong hands and perpetuating further cycles of violence. This is how to secure a more peaceful tomorrow."
The HALO Trust is active in around 30 territories worldwide, including Afghanistan, Yemen, Gaza and Syria. Its largest presence is in Ukraine where 1500 staff are pioneering new technology including drones, remote sensing, artificial intelligence and machine-learning tools to accelerate landmine detection.
General Thomson will discuss how landmine clearance contributes to Ukraine's agricultural recovery and global food security at an event hosted by the Centre for European Policy Studies on the sideline of the conference on Saturday 14 February, 5.30pm to 7pm (CET).
HALO's Ukrainian staff have endured one of the hardest winters since Russia's full-scale invasion. Its Head of Communications in Ukraine, Olga Golovina, survived a recent drone strike that damaged her apartment.
"There is deep exhaustion, there is anger but there is no fear. What keeps us going is each other", she said.
Notes to editors
- For interviews with Rob Thomson or Olga Golovina, contact media@halotrust.org.
- HALO has been working clearing mines in Ukraine since 2015 and was the first international operator to secure authorisation to use explosives to destroy items in situ.
- New data shows that 40,000 sq km of farmland, an area equivalent to the size of Switzerland, originally suspected of being mined, is now safe. 65% of this area (29,000 sq km), an area equivalent to the size of Belgium or Hawaii, was surveyed by HALO teams.
- Since February 2022, HALO has cleared more than 14.5 million m2 of land in total – equal to 2030 football pitches – surveyed around 55.5 million sq m and found 60,000 mines and UXOs.
- HALO is grateful to its donors for their continuing support, including Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), The Governments of Luxembourg, Canada, Latvia, Czech Republic, Norway and the UK, German Federal Foreign Office, AAR Japan, Centre de Crise et de Soutien / France – Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères, The Howard G Buffett Foundation, Vitera, Global Giving, John Deere, Meta, ADM, AWS, Planet, FMC and Trimble.
