After almost 30 years’ work by thousands of Angolan deminers The HALO Trust has passed the milestone of 1,000 minefields completely cleared in Angola.
The land released by the 1,000 minefields is over 40 sq kilometres – the equivalent of 5,600 football pitches given back to local people to safely grow food, build schools and develop the country.
In the course of clearing the minefields HALO has destroyed over 113,000 landmines in Angola since it began operations in the midst of the Civil War in 1994.
Christopher Pym, Country Director for HALO in Angola said: “This amazing achievement is a testimony to hard work and dedication of the thousands of Angolans who have worked for HALO since 1994. Painstakingly, metre-by-metre they have made their own communities and their own country safer for their fellow Angolans.”
“I also need to say thank you to the many donors who have supported HALO’s work, especially the United States Government and the Government of Angola. The Government of Angola is unique in the world for the level of investment it has made to clearing its own country of landmines.”
The HALO Trust is currently working on a $60 million contract from the Government of Angola to clear 153 minefields in Kuando Kubango Province over X years. It is an unprecedented investment in mine action by a developing nation. The 153 minefields are in the Mavinga and Luengue-Luiana National Parks and as well as making local people safer, the clearance of the landmines will allow sustainable and conservation-based development in the parks.
The First Minefield
The first minefield cleared by HALO was in Cuito in Bié Province. The minefield is long gone and the location is now the N13 Francisco Julio Chinbungo Kambulukuto School complex, which houses 3,400 pupils. None of the pupils are aware that their classrooms sit on what was once a deadly minefield.
Cuito Government Buildings
At the same time that HALO started clearance of what is now Kambulukuto school, it also started clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance in the centre of the city at the site of the pink-painted Cuito government buildings. The area had been destroyed during savage fighting in the city and could not be rebuilt until HALO made the area safe.
The Hon. Deputy Anastácio Severino Sambowe, said: “In 1994 when there was an urgent need for government services, we had to ask HALO to verify where was safe so we could rebuild. I would like to underline the role which HALO Trust played and continues to play in our country and in particular in Bié province. If there was no demining there would be no reconstruction at all.”
Before and After
The 1,000th Minefield
This is where a description of the 1,000th minefield can go. Probably a Kuando Kubango minefield. With an image and a quote from local people and some detail of its impact.
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