The HALO Trust launched the Safe Steps for the people of Karabakh campaign in 2016 with the aim to clear all the landmines in Karabakh by 2020, alleviating the suffering Karabakhi Armenians have endured for the past 22 years.
A third of landmine victims in Karabakh are children, and in addition to facing the threat of debilitating injuries and death, the Karabakhi people are financially threatened as minefields hinder agricultural and family businesses.
It will take $8m to make Nagorno Karabakh mine-free by 2020, and a private donor pledged to match $4m, if The HALO Trust could raise the rest. Your individual support saw immediate effects.
Together in 2016, we:
- Cleared 24 minefields to protect and benefit over 4,700 Armenians
- Returned 226 acres of former minefield to families for farming, improved access to water and roads, foraging, and wood-cutting
- Provided emergency clearance, responding to 170 call-outs to destroy explosive ordnance
- Destroyed 159 mines, 165 cluster munitions, and 79 other explosive items including two aircraft bombs
- Educated more than 10,000 people about the dangers of mines and explosive remnants of war
- Hired and trained 60 new Karabakhi staff, bringing our total staff in Karabakh to 168
- Ran the first crowdfunding campaign to clear a minefield; making Myurishen village safe
- Raised over 20% of the $4m required to make Karabakh Mine Free
Thank you to our generous donors that made these accomplishments possible.
Every day, our Karabakhi staff continue to work tirelessly toward one goal: a safer and more prosperous Mine Free NK by 2020.
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