By Lisa Balestrieri | Development Officer
The HALO Trust has a long history of keeping the civilian population of Nagorno Karabakh safe by clearing landmines and explosives. Now, there is a grave new humanitarian need for HALO’s work as the worst fighting in decades has erupted in Karabakh.
The situation for families is desperate with half of the population being reported as displaced. Families who have stayed behind are taking shelter in cold, damp basements or crowded into air raid shelters as explosives, including cluster bombs, have hit civilian areas.
We are currently on the ground supporting the national rescue service as emergency calls come in from members of the public to report explosives scattered in fields and streets. In the last week alone, our team has used its expertise and equipment to safely destroy over 150 explosive items.
Whenever there is a pause in the shelling, we have been delivering essential supplies to civilian shelters, including hygiene kits to reduce the spread of COVID-19, fuel and blankets. Our risk education teams are distributing vital educational materials by hand throughout Stepanakert, ensuring people know how to stay safe until full scale clearance is possible.
Once it is safe to do so, our teams will start a large scale operation to clear the explosive debris that now litters the streets of Karabakh so that displaced families can return home safely.
Thank you to everyone who has supported HALO's work in the past. We hope we can count on you to help us keep thousands of women, children, and elderly safe in Karabakh.
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