Introducing HALO's newest program: Papua New Guinea

More than 80 years ago, in the jungles of an island country in the Pacific Ocean, Allied and Japanese forces fought their ways through dense trees and intense heat. They stockpiled, used, and abandoned massive quantities of explosive weapons.

Across Papua New Guinea, many of these weapons – including grenades, mortars, and aircraft bombs – continue to threaten communities. Decades-old danger shapes families’ daily lives.

Last year, HALO established a program in Papua New Guinea to remove these explosives and help these communities become safe – for good.

Most people who live in Papua New Guinea today were not alive to witness the war whose weapons linger in their roads, yards, and farmland. They have no memories of a life without the threat of hidden danger.

Munitions are a common sight near homes, schools, and farm fields, and it is easy to accidentally set off an explosion while making a fire to cook.

Entire livelihoods have even sprung up around repurposing the explosives. "Fish-bombing,” a practice where people use the explosive components of old bombs to stun or kill large swaths of fish to sell or eat, is a widespread way that people provide for themselves.

And it’s more than just the explosions themselves that endanger people. As these weapons degrade over time, they leach chemicals into the surrounding soil and water.

Components like white phosphorous – an extremely hazardous material used in weapons, which ignites instantly when exposed to oxygen – can cause severe burns to unsuspecting civilians who are unaware of how dangerous it is.

HALO in Papua New Guinea

In 2025, HALO’s work here officially began.

Today, teams are surveying the land, speaking directly with communities and creating a map of where these explosives might be located.

In the past, a lack of information about how many munitions exist and where they are located has made it hard for people to act.

By meeting directly with communities, physically inspecting the land, and using mapping technology, HALO can fill this gap – allowing trained teams to destroy the explosives safely and giving institutions information that can help them create safety plans and protect their citizens.

In Papua New Guinea, we are also conducting risk education, which helps communities stay safe before explosives can be cleared. These sessions involve classes, community meetings, posters, leaflets, and workbooks for children – who can easily mistake a dangerous device for a toy while they play outside.

Thanks to you

There is a long road ahead before the debris of war is gone forever. But with your support, we’re making a safer future possible, one step at a time.