History of HALO

In 1988, as Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan, they left behind a humanitarian landmine crisis. 

Thousands of civilians were being killed or injured. Tens of thousands of refugees were prevented from returning. Aid could not be delivered because of the dangerous debris littering roads, towns, and fields.

Colin Mitchell, Guy Willoughby, and Susan Mitchell OBE, witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by remnants of war.

They resolved to do something about this crisis, so they founded The HALO Trust in Kabul in 1988.

Guy was instrumental in developing HALO from a tiny charity into the powerful force for good it is today. He left HALO in 2014, by which time we had more than 7,000 staff in 17 countries and territories. He helped to get mine clearance taken seriously around the world.

The landmine issue shot to international prominence in 1997, when Princess Diana walked through a minefield during a visit to HALO in Angola.

Shortly after her visit, the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty was signed by 122 countries, calling for the world to unite to get rid of landmines. 

Prince Harry has continued in his mother's footsteps in support of The HALO Trust since 2011. He has made multiple visits to HALO operations in Angola and Mozambique. He has participated in many fundraising events and announced a major conservation project to clear landmines from the Okavango headwaters.

We're very grateful for Prince Harry's ongoing support.

We've run programmes in all corners of the globe, from Laos to Libya, Colombia to Cote d'Ivoire. HALO is known for being the first on the ground, during and after conflict. We work quickly to assess dangerous areas and carry out emergency clearance. This helps to prevent injuries and opens up vital aid access.

Clearing landmines is painstaking work. It can take decades to make whole areas safe so ordinary life can resume. We began clearing explosives in Mozambique in 1993, but the country was not declared mine-free until 2015. In Angola, our clearance work started in 1994, but there's still a long way to go. 

From small beginnings in the late 1980s, we now employ over 9,000 men and women. 95% of our staff come from affected communities in war-torn regions around the world.

We've expanded the breadth of our work and now have programmes in over 30 locations. As well as clearing explosives, we destroy weapons, manage stockpiles, and teach communities to stay safe.

We're committed to our founding principles – making land safe, protecting lives, and helping families rebuild their livelihoods.