Landmines and explosives left from war don't just threaten lives. Landmines stop children from going to school. Farmers from harvesting their land. Refugees from returning home. And make it harder for parents to feed their children.
Children are especially at risk as they are adventurous and naturally curious. An unexploded bomb can look like a tempting toy to an inquisitive child. Last year, half of the casualties of landmines and other explosive remnants of war were children.
Right now, families returning home in Ukraine are coming back to grenades and tripwires in their homes and gardens. In Zimbabwe, children are walking to school through minefields. And in Afghanistan people are risking their lives walking on paths littered with IEDs and landmines just to reach doctor clinics.
The HALO Trust has been destroying landmines and cleaning up the deadly debris of war for over 30 years. And we need your help. With your support, we can clear safe paths to schools and playgrounds and turn minefields into safe farm fields and homes.
Please contact your Members of Congress today and urge them to support global demining programs. With your help, we can create a mine-free world.
Subject: Support $290m for Global Demining in FY25 Budget
Dear Representative/Senator,
As your constituent and a supporter of The HALO Trust, I am calling on you to support $290 million in the FY25 budget for the State Department's Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) programs and commit to additional funding for landmine removal programs in Ukraine.
Landmines and explosives still contaminate 60 countries and territories worldwide. These lethal devices injured or killed nearly 5,000 people in 2022 alone – and half of these casualties were children. As we see the use of mines and other explosives increasing in a year of ongoing global conflict, we cannot stand by and allow these deadly devices to endanger the lives of innocent children and tear apart families.
From Ukraine to Vietnam, from the Solomon Islands to Colombia, explosive remnants of war across the world not only threaten the lives of civilians and Americans traveling abroad, but also compound the humanitarian impacts of conflict by inhibiting economic development and jeopardizing food security.
The U.S. must continue to lead the world as the largest supporter of demining programs – providing a transformational and cost-effective form of international aid.
I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian and security cost of allowing landmines to remain in the ground. Therefore, it is essential that Congress includes no less than $290 million for the life-saving State Department Conventional Weapons Destruction program and continued additional support for demining activities in Ukraine.
Thank you for your leadership on this important issue.
Sincerely,
[Name]
