Supporting Landmine Victims | The HALO Trust USA

Landmines, cluster bombs and other explosives inflict appalling injuries that have a devastating impact on people’s futures. Landmines, cluster bombs and other explosives inflict appalling injuries that have a devastating impact on people’s futures. Over 5,700 people were killed or injured by landmines and other explosives in 2023.

Within six months of the fall of the Assad regime in Syria in December 2024, HALO recorded almost 1,000 civilian casualties from mines and unexploded bombs including around 350 fatalities.

HALO protects lives by destroying landmines and teaching people, particularly children, how to stay safe until our work is done.

We also work with local partners in countries like Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Colombia and Laos to ensure that landmine victims like Ing receive the support they need to regain their independence and live with dignity.

PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR LANDMINE VICTIMS

"It means so much to me that I am now able to be independent and carry out basic daily activities. It relieves the burden on my family, and I do not feel helpless anymore."

Mr Ing, Laos

Ing is one of 25,000 people in Laos who have been killed or injured by unexploded cluster bombs. He lost both his arms and the sight in one eye when he hit a cluster bomb whilst cutting his grass. Before his accident, he grew food for his family on their land but after he was injured, the family struggled. His son Sone and daughter Chillid dropped out of school to help care for Ing and the family had to sell their land to make ends meet.

When HALO’s team met Ing, they realised the family needed urgent help and took him to a rehabilitation facility. With the support of COPE (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise), he was fitted with two prosthetic arms. Having regained his independence Ing hopes to be able to begin farming again soon.

EDUCATING PEOPLE TO STAY SAFE

"We are very thankful to HALO for providing us with mine risk education. For many years, we were afraid to leave our house and cultivate our land, as we were unsure if it was contaminated. Now, our new knowledge will reduce the risks of accidents in our community."

Khatera, Afghanistan

Fighting forced Khatera and her family to move to a refugee camp in Kunduz Province in Afghanistan. When they arrived, they heard that there were many mines in the district and that people and animals had been injured or killed by them. News about accidents spread quickly and Khatera’s family did not want to use the land. HALO visited the camp and showed them what to look for so they could stay safe.

Protecting lives