Removing mines to make families safe in Kosovo

As 2020 comes to an end, we want to thank you for supporting our mine clearance work in Kosovo. The COVID-19 pandemic has made this a challenging year, but thanks to your support our deminers have been working hard to continue clearing landmines and keep Kosovans safe.

Our team in Kosovo has been back in the field at full deployment since mid-August. All staff have received training on COVID-19 precaution measures by HALO’s Medic and our operations are strictly complying with health and national guidelines, ensuring that our staff remains safe.

Thanks to you, communities like Nerodime, which were once heavily contaminated with explosives, can now thrive. Blerim and his wife Valbona were among the villagers who abandoned their home in Nerodime during the war in 1998, fearing for their lives. Following the recent completion of clearance by HALO, families who left 20 years ago now have the chance to return to their homes and live and work in safety.

Blerim and Valbona now live with their children in their recently re-built house in Nerodime. The couple has been able to start a new business after HALO cleared their land: “The clearance allowed for the installation of new electricity poles right through the cleared land to reach my business.” The couple has opened rental cabins as a result and can now ensure visitors that the whole village is free from explosive contamination.

With each minefield cleared, families are able to move beyond conflict and focus on rebuilding their lives and communities without fear. We are so grateful to have you in our global network of supporters and advocates. Thank you for making our work possible!

Have a happy and healthy 2021!