By Lauren Buehner | Development Staff
I want to begin by thanking all of our generous donors for their support of our critical mine clearance work in Kosovo. Since HALO has begun working in Kosovo, we have cleared cluster bombs and landmines from an area the size of over 1,500 football fields. Your generosity has helped make this possible.
As the world has had to adjust to the coronavirus pandemic, so has our program in Kosovo. For the safety of our staff, the program temporarily halted work but is currently back working at about half deployment.
Despite the slowdown of our mine clearance work, HALO’s Kosovo program still found ways to support the pandemic response in this area. Millions of families have been asked to shelter in place to keep themselves, and everyone else, safe. However, for many vulnerable groups—including asylum seekers, refugees, and victims of domestic violence—home is not always a safe place to be. Our team in Kosovo recognized the urgent need to protect vulnerable members of its community against domestic violence and quickly mobilized support.
According to Dr Hans Kluge, Europe Director of the World Health Organisation - 'Lockdown stress and anxiety has led to a sharp spike in the number of women reporting incidents of domestic abuse.'
In fact, Kosovo’s police force has seen a 36 percent increase in domestic violence reports since quarantine measures were introduced in March, putting pressure on already stretched resources.
Which is why we partnered with Safe House, a Kosovan charity that provides shelter to victims of domestic abuse, to create a haven for some of the most vulnerable. HALO has purchased bedding and clothes for women and children who would otherwise be trapped in violent situations while sheltering in place.
As international borders have closed in response to the pandemic, the number of asylum seekers throughout the world has exponentially increased. Working in conjunction with UNHCR and the national government, HALO has supplied hygiene kits and bedding to ensure asylum seekers have a safe, and clean, place to stay.
We are so grateful to our loyal donors who continue to support us during these uncertain times – thank you!
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