El Salvador

The brutal Civil War in El Salvador during the 80s and early 90s, claimed the lives of over 75,000 people—though there were many more unconfirmed disappearances. It left behind a dangerous legacy of landmines and other explosives, and large numbers of guns were imported during the conflict. These now contribute to high levels of crime and violence, so much so, that gang culture has spread, leaving El Salvador with one of the highest murder rates in the world.

The war is over but stability and security in El Salvador are an ongoing challenge and people like Maria, now a teacher who grew up in El Salvador during the war, live in fear.

“I was riding the bus back from school when shooting started between two gangs. I threw myself on the floor and prayed. One of the gang members killed in the shooting was my student.”

Maria, El Salvador

Our Work

Managing weapons & ammunition

With the proactive support of the El Salvadorian police and armed forces, and thanks to funding from the United States Government, HALO is working to strengthen security in the country. In partnership with the police, we are destroying explosives and weapons and training the military to manage arms stores, so that the people of El Salvador can move towards a more peaceful future.

OUR IMPACT

“It was wonderful to know that, in destroying these weapons, we were not only taking them out of circulation, but also supporting children like Helen who, despite her diagnosis, is full of smiles.”

Julieta Arnau, Programme Manager, El Salvador

Recently, we melted over 600 weapons and raised $1300 from the molten metal. We donated the money to Fundacion Ayudame a Vivir, a local charity that helps children like five-year-old Helen, who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Stories from Latin America

National Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Day

Creating a Safer Future in El Salvador

"Watching my back": Living with gang violence in El Salvador

Meet our team in El Salvador

Julieta Arnau Arroyo

Project Manager

Julieta Arnau joined HALO in October, 2017 to lead the PSSM and weapon’s destruction project in El Salvador. Julieta is a Mechanical Engineer with a Masters in International Cooperation Development and Humanitarian aid. Prior to HALO she led a supply chain optimisation project for Social Enterprise AccessAfya in Kenya, she also developed an emerging technologies applied to supply chain optimisation project for the United Nations Population Fund in Copenhagen, volunteered in South East Asia and India and worked for a construction company, in the private sector in her home country, Venezuela.

Antonio Alpresa

Technical Manager

Antonio joined HALO in September 2017 as the Technical Manager in Guatemala supporting the project in working closely with the armed forces and National Civil Police. Since 2019, Antonio has been the Technical Manager in El Salvador working on to providing technical support for the clearance of the debris of war.

Before HALO he served in the Spanish Marine Corps for 23 years where he graduated EOD 3+/IEDD and participated in International Missions with United Nations and European Union in Haiti, Lebanon and Bosnia. In the private sector he has worked as an EOD operator in Denmark and Dubai. He also holds a degree in Criminology from the University of Cadiz, Spain.

Eugenia Ávila

Finance Manager

Eugenia joined HALO El Salvador in January 2018 as the Finance Manager. Prior to HALO, she worked at the International Organization for the Migration as a case worker in the Resettlement Centre programme supporting refugees fleeing gang violence, which made her fall in love with humanitarian work. She has a degree in Tourism, and has also worked in the IT sector. She spends her free time with her young daughter.

Anahit Galstyan

Partnerships and Development Officer – Northern Triangle

After running a successful crowdfunding campaign for HALO NK while she was the Country Director at a non-profit digital marketing organisation in Armenia, Anahit was so inspired by HALO’s work that she joined HALO in Kosovo in September 2017, bringing her experience in development and sustainability to the organisation. She has a Master’s Degree from University College London in Human Rights, with research focus on gender and human trafficking. Her experience ranges from non-profit management to branding and communications, but she is most passionate about making a positive impact on other people’s lives and empowering vulnerable groups.

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The HALO Trust is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 2228587. Registered Charity No. 1001813 and (in Scotland) SC037870. Registered office: 50 Broadway, London SW1H 0BL

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