A Scots charity is receiving more than £7million to continue its vital work clearing landmines in Ukraine and Afghanistan.
The UK Government has extended its contracts with HALO Trust to allow it to continue with its life-saving work.
And International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds has also announced support for the Dumfries and Galloway-based charity’s programme to dispose of unsafe ammunition and explosives in Somaliland.
Ms Dodds made the announcement during a visit to the non-governmental organisation’s Thornhill headquarters on Wednesday morning.
She 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 demining 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.”
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Since 2014, the UK Government’s Global Mine Action Programme has helped charities clear nearly 700million square metres of mines. The programme is currently active in 10 countries.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has now extended its current contracts with HALO to clear mines in Afghanistan and Ukrane to the end of March 2026.
Work to release land of agricultural in Ukraine has been allocated £4.3million, with the charity’s work in Afghanistan receiving £3million.
And a £250,000 programme to dispose of 165 tons of unserviceable and unsafe ammunition and explosives from stories in Hargeisa, Somaliland is also being supported.
Chief strategy officer at HALO Trust, Ruth Jackson, 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.”
During her visit, Ms Dodds also used HALO’s situation room to speak to female deminers in Syria and Ukraine.
She added: “During my visit today I have been given fascinating insights into the challenging conditions under which HALO’s deminers work.
“I was struck by the increasingly important contribution that female deminers are making in a traditionally male-dominated sector.”