El Salvador

The brutal Civil War in El Salvador during the 80s and early 90s, claimed the lives of over 75,000 people—though there were many more unconfirmed disappearances. It left behind a dangerous legacy of landmines and other explosives, and large numbers of guns were imported during the conflict. These now contribute to high levels of crime and violence, so much so, that gang culture has spread, leaving El Salvador with one of the highest murder rates in the world.

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.

With the proactive support of the El Salvadorian police and armed forces, and thanks to funding from the United States Government, HALO is working to strengthen security in the country. In partnership with the police, we are destroying explosives and weapons and training the military to manage arms stores, so that the people of El Salvador can move towards a more peaceful future.

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

HALO is piloting a project that combines vital restoration of El Salvador's mangrove forests with creating opportunities for at-risk youth. A century ago, El Salvador had 100,000 hectares of saltwater forest but today only 40 per cent of this remains. Mangrove forests are one of the most productive and critical ecosystems on the planet contributing to water purification and storage, fisheries, timber production, aquifer recharge, carbon fixation and climate regulation. Crucially in a part of the world subject to extreme weather events, the mangroves also protect and stabilise the coastline.

In partnership with Asociación Mangle—a community-led organisation focused on improving living conditions via the construction of a system with economic, social, and environmental justice and equity of gender—HALO will build a community-led intervention plan to restore the mangroves. Working alongside Asociación Generaciones de Paz—an organisation focusing on the environmental and ecological rights of marginalised and vulnerable young people—the project will employ 25 at-risk young people; training them as re-foresters to set up mangrove nurseries and grow 10,000 seedlings to be replanted

Our work in El Salvador is funded by:

The Government of the United States