Last Stage of Ukraine Troop Pullback Opens Way for Peace Summit

Ukraine began the last of three troop withdrawals in its eastern conflict zone, a move that should help pave the way for a peace summit with the leaders of Russia, Germany and France. The pullback started Saturday shortly after noon Kyiv time, Read More …

‘Whistles, warnings, kaboom!’: a day with a landmine clearance team

Aki Ra was a child soldier for Pol Pot, laying mines around Siem Reap. Now he is using his expertise to clear land in rural Cambodia and make it safe again The rusty tailfin of the mortar round can be Read More …

Japan grants Rs. 219 million for humanitarian demining in North Sri Lanka

The Japanese Government has provided a total sum of US$ 1,266,825 (approx. Rs. 219 million) for the SKAVITA Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Project (SHARP) and the HALO Trust for humanitarian demining in Northern Sri Lanka, a communique issued by the Read More …

Schonstedt Magnetic Locators Support Somalia Demining Efforts

In collaboration with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), four Magnetic Locators from Schonstedt Instrument Company have deployed to Somalia, approximately 6 miles north of the nation’s capital, Mogadishu, to locate explosive remnants of war (ERW). About the Site Read More …

First Afghanistan province declared mine-free – thanks to an all-female team who cleared them

Last year, landmines still killed or injured an average of four Afghans every day. During the past four decades of war, the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan has cleared more than 18 million explosive remnants of war, about 737,000 anti-personnel mines Read More …

Germany supports demining projects in Sri Lanka

On 17 September, German Ambassador Jörn Rohde visited the demining sites of the HALO Trust and Delvon Assistance for Social Harmony (DASH), who is the local implementing partner of Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Kilinochchi. The aforementioned two non-governmental organisations Read More …

IEDs: tackling terrorists’ weapon of war

Some of the most memorable images of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, show her wearing a protective suit while touring a minefield in Angola in 1997 to raise awareness of the devastating effects of land mines. After meeting 13-year-old Read More …

Sri Lanka: US delegation inspects demining activities in northern areas

A delegation of US representatives yesterday (07) monitored the demining activities in Jaffna, Muhamalai and Pallai areas. Mine clearance organizations are carrying out demining activities in the aforementioned areas with the financial assistance of the US government. According to demining Read More …

UK aid-funded mine clearance success in Angola to be repeated in Zimbabwe

Thousands of people will be safe from the threat of landmines in Zimbabwe, thanks to fresh UK support for demining charity The HALO Trust. UK aid will match public donations to the charity’s Zimbabwe appeal, International Development Secretary Alok Sharma Read More …

Prince Harry walks through Angola minefield 22 years after Diana

Prince Harry visited the site in Huambo, which has become a “bustling community” since Diana’s campaign. Wearing body armour, he also visited a partially-cleared minefield nearby and set off a controlled explosion. Diana captured global attention when she walked through Read More …

Japan’s commitment to Mideast remains vital

Japan has earned the well-deserved respect of the world, emerging from conflict to become an economic success at home and a strong proponent of socially responsible policies and actions both at home and abroad. I am a beneficiary of both Read More …

Humanitarian mine action – global engagement against mines and cluster munitions

Landmines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) still kill or maim thousands of people around the world each year. When the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Treaty) entered into force 20 years ago, the number of victims initially Read More …

Western Sahara: Moroccan mines cause new victims

A Mauritanian citizen was injured Monday following the explosion of a Moroccan fragmentation bomb in an area close to the Moroccan wall, at about 90km from the Sahrawi region of Tifariti. According to the Sahrawi Office of Mine Action Coordination Read More …

Explosive ordnance disposal from Afghanistan to the Ukraine

As one of very few efforts to clear war-torn areas from landmines and other explosives, the HALO Trust’s work is vital for affected communities in bringing about an environment that allows social and economic activities to return to normal as well Read More …

Mines turn farms into killing fields in Iraq

One man lost his uncle. Another is mourning for two sons. Farmers and herders in Iraq’s Baiji say mines left by Daesh turned their beloved orchards into killing fields. The improvised explosive devices, planted by militants trying to fend off Read More …

US government to provide $425K for war-era cluster bomb clearance

The US government will provide an extra $425,000 to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) for it to clear the remnants of cluster bombs dropped on eastern Cambodia 40 years ago and carry out research. CMAC director-general Heng Ratana said Read More …