The people of Myanmar have suffered the longest-running civil war in history. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and displaced, and a deadly legacy of landmines stops farmers from cultivating their land and families from returning home. The re-election of the civilian government in 2015 was seen as a stepping-stone towards peace but progress is slow, and approval has not yet been granted for humanitarian landmine clearance. In the meantime, accidents continue to happen and children, unaware of the dangers, are most at risk.
Last year, the life of ten-year-old Sai Hlaing Nom changed forever when a grenade he was playing with exploded. Sai Hlaing Nom lost his right foot, hand and eye. His friend Nang Seng Sin was killed.
Our Work
While we wait for permission to start clearing landmines, HALO is teaching people how to stay safe. We employ nearly 50 local men and women, who visit villages and schools, making sure everyone is aware of the dangers posed by landmines and other debris left behind after conflict.