Support and Protect Families in Afghanistan

In May, HALO celebrated another milestone in its efforts to free Afghanistan of explosive ordnance – having safely disposed of 5,000 IEDs since IED clearance began in 2018.

IEDs function in a similar way to conventional landmines but are more complex due to their improvised and inconsistent nature. The key difference is that they are “homemade”, often utilizing nails, glass, or metal in addition to explosives.

Numerous clinics and schools have been forced to close due to the threat of IEDs. In a country where public services are limited, this leaves entire communities without access to healthcare or educational facilities. So far, HALO’s IED clearance has made three clinics and 14 schools safe, benefiting thousands of people every day.

One of these clinics, Yaklinga clinic, is in the village of Haji Ismail. During the conflict, the military repurposed Yaklinga clinic as a checkpoint, forcing the clinic staff to evacuate. During the fighting, the clinic was heavily damaged, and the surrounding area littered with IEDs. Once the conflict ended, the clinic remained closed. Local communities were left with no option but to travel for hours to receive healthcare.

In September 2022, The HALO Trust cleared the clinic compound of IEDs. Following HALO’s clearance, another charity was able to reconstruct the clinic building and restore health services, leading to the clinic’s reopening in January 2023. Since then, doctors have provided healthcare services to over 15,000 people.

Abdul, who brought his wife to the clinic to give birth, expressed relief that they no longer had to endure a four-hour journey to reach the nearest health facility in Tirin Kot.

“We faced lots of difficulties before, but now we can receive treatment at the clinic. My wife received treatment here four times during her pregnancy,” Abdul explained.

Dr. Agha explains that the clinic now offers community nutrition services, maternity care, psychological support, and other outpatient health services. The re-opening of the clinic has created employment opportunities for 25 people within the local community.

Clearance of IEDs is crucial to saving lives in Afghanistan, creating a safe and accessible environment, empowering communities, and delivering life-saving assistance to those in need. Thank you to everyone supporting HALO's important work here.