Nearly 40 years of conflict have left Afghanistan with a deadly legacy of landmines and explosives. Tens of thousands of people have been killed or injured by landmines. Given the current situation, HALO's work is more important than ever. HALO's work plays a crucial role in stabilizing communities in Afghanistan, not only by clearing explosives, but also by providing jobs and valuable skills and training to over 2,500 staff which in turn provides security for their families and dependents.
Around 80% of the population lives in rural communities, dependent on agriculture & livestock. When land is known to be mined, families are threatened with poverty because they can't grow enough food or graze their animals safely. Because of the current situation, there are over three million displaced people in Afghanistan who need to be kept safe from the explosives left over from the conflict. It also means that the Afghan economy will be turbulent for some time with an increase in poverty.
HALO has operated in Afghanistan for over 30 years, and our work is more critical than ever. Once a mine is destroyed, it's gone for good. You're helping to change the world in a very practical way because you're removing an object that had the capacity to kill anybody - farmer, widow, refugee or child - unfortunate enough to walk on it. It may only be a few inches of land, but you have made a piece of Afghanistan safer - and almost certainly saved a life."
Our work also has a huge stabilizing affect on communities through employment and training. HALO's program in Afghanistan is completely Afghan led, with an ethnically diverse workforce of over 2,500 staff, recruited directly from towns and villages affected, who work every day to help their country. For many, it is the only steady employment they have known. We provide legitimate job opportunities, promoting peace and ensuring families can put food on the table.
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