Project profile — Landmine Action in Colombia

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) reduced vulnerability to landmine accidents; (2) improved access to land for local residents and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); and (3) improved access to economic opportunities for local communities and ex-combatants, particularly women.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (November 2022) include: (1) clearance work conducted directly benefitted 1,263 persons (570 women and girls) and indirectly benefited 5,345 persons (2,591 women and girls); (2) of the staff employed and trained, 55% are victims of the conflict and 35% are women; (3) increased land available for economic activities and for the return of internally the displaced population; (4) decreased accidents from landmines mostly affecting vulnerable populations; (5) cleared 272,156 square meters of contaminated land; (6) cleared 120 minefields and handed over 90 to local communities; (7) declared 313 villages as free from contamination and five municipalities as landmine free; and (8) constant involvement of victims of the conflict and former combatants towards community reconstruction. The COVID-19 pandemic highly impacted Colombia, which led to mobility restrictions, a protracted lockdown and related security issues. Although this slowed some project activities, HALO Trust was nevertheless able to make progress, as demonstrated in the achievements described above.