Ridding the world of landmines

The Lamwyk Team is committed to using our platform to help the third sector. This column looks at some of the most challenging issues that charities must respond to. In this edition, we’re highlighting the importance of ridding the world of landmines.

In January, a group of children gathered in one of the many fields that stretch across Moxico Province in Angola. They started playing with what they thought was a football. In fact, they were playing with an unexploded landmine. Horror followed. All of the children were injured and a sixyear-old girl was killed.

Landmines are surely among humanity’s most heinous inventions. These explosive devices can remain primed and dangerous for decades. Then someone inadvertently triggers them and suffers life-changing injuries or death.

The presence of landmines also makes it impossible to farm affected areas, decimating both local and national economies in the process.

Powers that enthusiastically support the laying of landmines in conflict zones are considerably less enthusiastic about paying for their removal when peace returns.

As a result, a range of brave charities take on the responsibility of removing these indiscriminate killers from countries which lack the economic resources and expertise to remove them without assistance. The HALO Trust is a global reference but there are many others.

Their work is made immensely more difficult by the continuing use of landmines in conflicts around the world. Ukraine, Yemen and Libya are just a few of the latest countries to suffer this trauma. Ukraine alone is likely to face decades of work to clear landmines, cluster bombs, unexploded shells and other ordnance.

Shockingly, 32 countries have yet to sign the Ottawa (Mine Ban) Treaty. Until they do, landmines will continue to destroy lives and livelihoods every day.

By supporting charities like The Halo Trust, you can help communities torn apart by landmines to finally enjoy the security and happiness that they deserve.

Surely everyone deserves to feel safe and happy?

Many thanks to the HALO team for their research support with this article.