Carrying Princess Diana's legacy forward

In 1997, the late Princess Diana walked through a live minefield in Huambo, Angola. The image shocked the world—and sparked a global movement to ban landmines. Her visit put a human face on a hidden humanitarian crisis. Just months later, and shortly after her untimely death, her advocacy helped spur the signing of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Treaty. The world began to wake up to the reality that clearing landmines wasn't simply about removing weapons—it was about giving people their futures back.

Nearly three decades later, that very site is home to a thriving school and community. Thanks to continued investment from the Angolan government and support from donors like you, entire provinces—including Huambo and Benguela—are now free from the daily fear of landmines. HALO has destroyed more than 123,000 landmines and returned the equivalent of 6,000 soccer fields to safe use for farming, building schools, and powering development.

“I was born here in Biópio, and during the war, it was all mined,” says Benarda Maria, a retired teacher in Benguela. “When people left the commune, they had to get in via a gate—if you were late, you didn’t get back in. We walked to Lobito on foot to find food. Some people who went by car never returned. Life was so hard.”

Today, she beams with pride as she watches women from her community leading the next phase of Angola’s recovery: “I’m happy to see the women of this community doing mine clearance. Those girls have learnt a lot. Today’s women want to be equal to men—and that’s good.”

For Domingo Correa, a guard in Tangé, the danger was personal. “People, animals, even cattle stepped on the mines. We felt so bad,” he says. “Now the mines have nearly all gone. People can move around freely. Everything is clean. Yes, much better.”

In 2019, Prince Harry retraced his mother’s steps in Angola, walking through the same area that had once been a live minefield. By then, the site had transformed into a bustling street lined with homes, shops, and cheering schoolchildren.

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Harry paid tribute to Angola’s transformation—and his mother’s role in making it possible.

Despite this extraordinary progress, challenges remain. While cities and towns are now largely safe, rural areas continue to suffer. Many families still live beside contaminated land. Children play near deadly explosives. Farmers avoid fertile fields out of fear.

HALO continues to work in Angola’s most remote communities to locate, clear, and destroy the remaining mines. Our mission is not complete until every family, in every corner of the country, can live and work in safety.

As we honor Princess Diana on her birthday, we invite you to join us in continuing her legacy. Your support is crucial in helping us clear the remaining minefields and create safe spaces for future generations.