UK government boosts support for Scottish de-mining charity’s work in Ukraine and Afghanistan
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-22)

International Development Minister visits the HALO Trust, with the UK government extending its funding to continue removing mines in Ukraine and Afghanistan.

- UK government to extend contracts for the HALO Trust to continue work ridding Ukraine and Afghanistan of deadly explosives
- comes as International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds visits the HALO Trust’s headquarters in Scotland
- minister experiences de-mining training and meets HALO’s equipment suppliers to discuss how UK aid also supporting the local economy and helping create jobs in the UK as part of the UK government’s Plan for Change
Vital work to clear deadly explosives in Ukraine and Afghanistan will be extended as Scottish de-mining charity the HALO Trust is set to receive new UK government funding to support its life-saving work.

A total of more than £7 million will be provided, which will enable HALO to continue its work to release productive land for agriculture in Ukraine, contributing to Ukrainian and global food security and keeping communities safe. In Afghanistan, funding will help restore basic services and support the safe return of refugees.

Minister Dodds also announced support for a £250,000 HALO programme to dispose of 165 tons of unserviceable and unsafe ammunition and explosives from stores in Hargeisa, Somaliland.

The announcement comes as International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds visited the NGO’s base in Thornhill, near Dumfries to see HALO’s de-mining training in action and learn how its work not only saves lives, but also brings benefit to the local economy and helps create jobs through businesses supplying specialist equipment.

The news comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Kyiv last week to sign the historic UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-ukraine-sign-landmark-100-year-partnership-to-deepen-security-ties-and-strengthen-partnership-for-future-generations), strengthening the ties between both nations and helping Ukraine rebuild following Russia’s illegal and barbaric invasion while generating jobs and income for people in both nations.

International Development Minister Dodds said:

No one should have to live in fear of being killed or maimed by one wrong step. These deadly devices sow fear and destruction for decades and organisations like the HALO Trust do a vital job in clearing mines.

I’m proud to be in Scotland to announce this support for the HALO Trust to continue its life-saving work removing deadly devices from some of the most hazardous parts of the world.

HALO is a world leader in de-mining and the UK government is committed to helping communities torn apart by conflict to rebuild their lives, including by freeing up land so it can be farmed and helping people to return safely to their communities.

The companies working with HALO are making a real contribution to some of the most vulnerable communities on earth – and in doing so are creating jobs and driving growth in Scotland, which I’m pleased to support as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

Since launching its Global Mine Action Programme (GMAP) in 2014, the UK government has supported charities such as HALO and Manchester-based NGO the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) to clear over 693 million square metres of mines and provide risk education for over 5.4 million people, giving them information to avoid deadly explosive devices.

GMAP is currently active in 10 countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.

Minister Dodds discussed how she intends to extend the FCDO’s current contracts with HALO to deliver mine action in Afghanistan and Ukraine by a further year from April 2025 to end March 2026, providing £4.3 million for work in Ukraine and £3 million for work in Afghanistan.

Minister Dodds also announced support for a HALO programme to dispose of 165 tons of unserviceable and unsafe ammunition and explosives from stores in Hargeisa, Somaliland.

Support for HALO’s work is a key part of the UK government’s Plan for Change (https://www.gov.uk/missions), including helping to secure our border by making global communities safer and more prosperous, making people less likely to risk their lives by migrating illegally to countries like the UK.

As part of the visit, Minister Dodds also spoke to female de-miners operating in Syria and Ukraine from HALO’s situation room. She added:

During my visit today I have been given fascinating insights into the challenging conditions under which HALO’s de-miners work.

I was struck by the increasingly important contribution that female de-miners are making in a traditionally male-dominated sector.

Since its establishment in 1988, HALO has cleared 2 million mines and other explosive ordnance – saving an estimated 2 million lives and giving over 10 million people safer access to schools, health clinics and farming land.

Ruth Jackson, Chief Strategy Officer at the HALO Trust said:

There can be no genuine recovery from conflict until all deadly unexploded mines and munitions are safely cleared. This vital UK government funding would make a huge difference to tens of thousands of people at risk from the dangerous levels of explosive contamination that litter where they work, live, study, and play.

Until the last landmine is out of the ground and the last bomb defused, large numbers of people will continue to live in fear. We remain dedicated to continuing our lifesaving work alongside MAG and other partners until this is achieved.

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