El Salvador: managing weapons safely

The brutal Civil War in El Salvador during the 80s and early 90s, claimed the lives of over 75,000 people—with many more who 'disappeared'. It left behind a dangerous legacy of guns that were imported during the conflict. These helped to contribute to high levels of crime and violence.

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

Since 2017, HALO has been working in El Salvador with the military and police to strengthen their management of stocks of weapons and ammunition to prevent unplanned explosions and the diversion of firearms to organised crime. At the same time, we strive to ensure the meaningful participation of women and other minority groups in the security forces.

As part of our weapons and ammunition management (WAM) projects commitment, we deliver specialised courses in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), ammunition handling and accounting, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). These courses equip local officials with the technical tools necessary to adopt best practices in line with the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) and the Modular Small Arms Control Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC).

HALO's impact as at Summer 2025

12549

Light weapons destroyed

38153

Kg of explosives & ammunition

495343

Items of ammunition

OUR IMPACT

Lack of opportunity, gang violence and high levels of extortion have historically put young people in El Salvador at risk, but providing them with meaningful employment can help them escape the cycle of violence.

HALO is implementing a project combining vital mangrove restoration in part of the Jiquilisco Xiriualtique Biosphere Reserve, located in eastern El Salvador, in collaboration with Mangrove Action Project and Asociación Mangle–a community-based organisation focused on improving living conditions by building a system with economic, social and environmental justice and gender equity.

In collaboration with vulnerable youth, the project employs 12 at-risk youth and trains them as community reforesters to create mangrove nurseries and cultivate around 10,000 trees that will be replanted in the area known as ‘El Quemado’.