2022 was a challenging year for communities around the world. The war in Ukraine and humanitarian crises in Afghanistan and elsewhere continue to threaten families every day. Vulnerable populations are especially at risk from conflicts and from climate change. But thanks to your support this year, we have made thousands of square miles safe for families around the world, rebuilt vibrant communities devastated by conflict, and saved countless lives.
Read on below to see some of your biggest achievements in 2022.
1. Knowing how to identify an unexploded item can be the difference between life and death. HALO has been delivering an online awareness campaign to Ukrainians on the risks of unexploded rockets and bombs through our own social media channels that has been seen by 17 million Ukrainians. Our urgent warning about the danger of unexploded weapons in Ukraine is our most viewed post of 2022.
2. In June 2022, a devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. The HALO Trust had three teams working nearby, which included a doctor and paramedics who were able to respond right away, providing food and water supplies and medical care. HALO teams also cleared rubble from over 400 homes, helping over 6,500 men, women, and children. Our excavators, which are normally used for landmine clearance, were able to make this happen.
3. In the aftermath of the 2020 war that ravaged Nagorno Karabakh, thousands of residents returned to find their homes badly damaged with artillery shells, unexploded cluster munitions, and debris from other weaponry scattered across their yards. More than 20% of Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno Karabakh, was contaminated with unexploded items that were left from constant bombardments during the height of the fighting. Over 18 months later, HALO reached an important milestone in helping Nagorno Karabakh recover. We have completed the clearance of all currently known contamination in Stepanakert.
4. This year, The HALO Trust celebrates 30 years of HALO Cambodia. Since beginning clearance operations in 1992, we have removed 322,515 landmines and 212,260 items of explosive ordnance – directly benefitting one million people. In total HALO's work has released over 165 square miles of land back into the community, equivalent to over 60,000 soccer fields.
5. As of this year, our team in Zimbabwe has now destroyed over 150,000 landmines across the country. Long-forgotten by the rest of the world, Zimbabwe is one of the most densely mined countries in the world. HALO’s work clearing landmines in Zimbabwe is focused in the north east of the country, where we employ more than 470 local men and women. Every one of the 150,000 mines destroyed by HALO represents a child who can walk to school in safety or a farmer who can now feed his family.
These are just five examples of the impact of your support throughout 2022. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, thanks to you, our teams have been on the ground, making land safe and supporting families and communities to rebuild after conflict. Thank you for the life saving difference you make, every day.
