Yemen

Yemen is facing the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. It is in the grips of an ongoing conflict that has killed more than 10,000 civilians and injured tens and thousands more since it began in 2015.

Over 2 million people have been displaced as Yemen’s civil war continues to rage. Food, medicines and shelter are in desperately short supply. Fields and cities are littered with landmines and explosives, making it impossible for families to return home and aid cannot reach those reliant on it to survive.

HALO established a registered office in Aden in 2019. We are working closely with YEMAC, the national mine action organisation to develop a sustainable solution which can clear landmines and other explosives on a large scale so families can come home. As a first step, we are training and mentoring YEMAC staff and surveying land and communities to fully understand the extent of the challenge.

HALO’s training and mentorship has provided a much-needed boost to morale among YEMAC’s staff. It is early in the programme, but our qualified technicians have already improved the storage of ammunition and explosives. This reduces the risk of an accidental detonation—which could have devastating consequences for families living nearby. We have also produced the first recorded data sets, mapping the presence of explosives so local people can be warned to avoid dangerous areas until we can begin work to remove the threat for good.