2023 was another challenging year for communities throughout the world. The ongoing war in Ukraine, natural disasters in Afghanistan and Syria, and other humanitarian crises threatened the safety and livelihoods of families. Despite these hardships, your support enabled HALO to continue to remove landmines and UXO, educate communities to keep them safe, and rebuild communities after disaster and conflict.
Read on below to see some of your biggest achievements in 2023.
1. One of our proudest achievements in The HALO Trust history is the destruction and removal of 2 million mines. All of these mines are now gone for good. Since HALO began operations 35 years ago, our mission has been to protect lives and restore the livelihoods of people affected by conflict. At the heart of HALO is our incredible staff, who dedicate their lives to saving others and transforming the world.
2. In June 2023, a breach of the Nova Kakhovka dam caused severe flooding to minefields and dislodged landmines, triggering 10-kilogram anti-vehicle mines to detonate. Unfortunately, crop fields were destroyed, and countless homes were flooded, leaving many residents unable to access clean drinking water. While the flooding forced us to temporarily halt our clearance work, we worked with local communities to teach them how to recognize dangerous explosives and how to stay safe.
3. HALO Cambodia was thrilled to welcome Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the German Federation, to our base near Siem Reap. President Steinmeier had the opportunity to meet local community members to hear firsthand about the positive transformations to their lives and livelihoods. We’re incredibly grateful for the support and funding from Germany, which has enabled us to make a real difference, keeping countless people safe and creating a brighter future for generations.
4. Boom! HALO Afghanistan hit a major milestone in June, destroying 5,000 improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Our team hadn't just cleared these deadly explosives; they'd also removed the threat to the lives of the local community and turned unusable farmland into a safe area for farmers to cultivate crops. It was an extraordinary moment for the HALO team, who have transformed countless lives and created a brighter, safer future for all.
5. Thank you, to HALO’s friend JJ Chalmers, for highlighting the devastating landmine crisis in Ukraine on BBC’s One Show. JJ spent time on the ground with our HALO Ukraine team in May and witnessed first-hand what life was and tragically still is for Ukrainians. Our clearance work in Ukraine remains a priority.
6. HALO Sri Lanka welcomed TV presenter Alexander Armstrong to showcase their life-saving work for his TV show, which aired on Channel 5 earlier this year. During his visit to our base, he met our incredible demining staff, who are clearing dangerous mines left from the civil war.
7. Damien O’Brien, HALO Syria’s program manager, relives his horrific account of being caught up in the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria in February. Tragically tens of thousands of people were killed, and homes and livelihoods destroyed. In the aftermath, HALO Syria worked to support the humanitarian response, including helping survivors to access vital healthcare facilities.
8. Princess Diana’s famous walk through a minefield was shown in the final season of Netflix’s The Crown. HALO CEO, James Cowan, reflects on her legacy and the crucial role she played bringing the landmine crisis to the attention of the world.
9. In March, we spotlighted two female deminers from Iraq who are challenging the norm, breaking barriers, and paving the way for a future generation of leaders. Safaa was forced to flee for safety from her home in Baiji, Iraq, following the ISIS occupation in 2014; when it was safe to return home three years later, her village was destroyed and littered with explosives. Determined to make a difference in her community, she joined HALO in 2018 as a deminer, helping Baiji return to the safe and thriving place it once was. Her bravery and hard work inspired more women to begin working as deminers; Saffa now works as a team supervisor, leading teams to clear these deadly mines. Prepare to be inspired by these amazing women – read their stories here.
10. In January, we shared our plans to launch an unexploded ordnance (UXO) project in the Solomon Islands. Following the historical battle for the Pacific 80 years ago, deadly explosives were left behind, threatening the lives of thousands of people. So far, HALO has surveyed over 8 million square meters of land for explosives and responded to more than 130 callouts for dangerous items. A key milestone for this project was our survey work on the Bloody Ridge battlefield in June. Once we had finished assessing how far spread the contamination was, we found an astonishing area of unexploded ordnance contamination equivalent to 154 football fields. We will continue our life-saving work in the Solomon Islands, helping the country to prosper and rebuild.
These are only 10 examples of what your support made possible during 2023. From Ukraine to the Soloman Islands, your support has enabled our teams to continue to work towards a safer future for communities across the world. Thank you for your generosity and for making this life-saving work possible.
