Visiting The HALO Trust’s landmine clearance operations in Cambodia last October was an unforgettable experience. It was my first time back in the country since 2004, when I was running a magazine about the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Returning two decades later as HALO USA’s head of communications deepened my appreciation for how far Cambodia has come in moving beyond its painful history of conflict.
HALO has been clearing landmines in Cambodia since 1991, making it one of our longest running and largest operations. Over the years, it has also become a crucial training ground—both for new field officers and for testing new technologies, including those developed through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Humanitarian Demining Research & Development Program.
After a few days in Siem Reap meeting with staff at our main office, I traveled northwest to the remote training site where field officer recruits were learning how to safely detonate landmines and other explosives. Watching them meticulously set up controlled detonations was fascinating, and we captured the explosions using drones. I interviewed the recruits, eager to understand what had drawn them to this difficult but vital work.
Next, I traveled deeper into Oddar Meanchey province to meet with program beneficiaries and our courageous deminers. I donned the heavy protective body armor our teams wear and stepped into active minefields. I expected to feel fear, but instead, the experience was surreal—like walking through a post-apocalyptic landscape. The heavy face shield muffled sounds, heightening the sense of isolation. I watched as our staff carefully placed markers where their detectors signaled potential explosives, then methodically dug to determine if it was just shrapnel or an active threat.
Landmine survivors in Oddar Meanchey province.
Throughout my journey, I listened to the voices of those whose lives had been shaped by landmines. I spoke with farmers finally on the verge of reclaiming their land. I heard from survivors who had lost limbs but continued to push forward. And I met HALO staff who had spent decades doing this work, unwavering in their commitment to making Cambodia safer.
My goal was to capture these stories with the respect and depth they deserve—stories that illuminate both the immense challenges and the extraordinary resilience of the people HALO serves.
Cambodian farmers picking fruit from their trees.
HALO Trust USA Head of Communications Jen Hyman.
I hope I won’t have to wait so long for my third visit to Cambodia, but whenever I return, I have no doubt that HALO Cambodia will have made even greater, life-saving inroads—one cleared minefield at a time.
