The HALO Trust

Who we are

HALO is the world’s leading humanitarian mine clearance organisation with programmes in over 28 countries and territories, and more than 12,500 staff. Most of our staff are local employees, with a growing number of women. Our primary expertise is serving people affected by conflict, clearing landmines and the explosive remnants of war that threaten lives and livelihoods long after fighting has finished. We make land safe where war has ended, while assisting those affected by active conflict and endemic violence, creating durable solutions to support stability. In recent years HALO has grown significantly. With our financial strength and strong government, community and partner relationships, HALO is uniquely positioned to help build resilient and prosperous communities; better equipped to withstand the interconnected global challenges of climate change, disease, political and economic instability. This will see the nature of HALO’s programming diversify.

For example, in southern Angola, our clearance work is part of a regional approach to develop conservation in support of Angola’s national plan to diversify their economy, protect their natural environment and create sustainable livelihoods. Angola has some of the world’s most important remaining wilderness, but the presence of landmines makes it almost impossible to apply the conservation measures needed to protect this vital resource. By clearing the landmines, HALO can lay the foundations for life, agriculture and eco-tourism to thrive.

The issue of landmines first shot to international prominence in 1997 when Princess Diana walked through a HALO cleared minefield in Angola—a walk that Prince Harry repeated in 2019. Since the Ukraine conflict began, HALO’s work has again been high profile. HALO has been present in the east of Ukraine since 2016 conducting life-saving mine clearance. At the outset of the current conflict, we were uniquely positioned to respond quickly to the crisis, providing first aid and safety messaging on the risk of unexploded ordnance. At the end of April, HALO teams began survey and clearance of explosives in the Kyiv region. Since then, we have made safe over 178,438m2 of previously hazardous land, protecting lives and enabling displaced people to return home and rebuild their livelihoods. Our operations are expanding from Kyiv Oblast to Chernihiv and Sumi Oblasts, with further expansion into newly liberated areas expected.

By 2025, with the support of our donors and partners, we will have enabled several countries to become landmine free. Other countries will be significantly closer to this critical goal. We will have started working in new countries and increased our capability to respond to new threats and changing humanitarian needs. The needs of people affected by conflict will be at the centre of everything we do