The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth $1.94 million with the Halo Trust Mine Clearance Organization to support demining efforts in several provinces across the country.

The agreement was signed by Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, General Director of ANDMA, and Thomas Hugh Clayton, Director of Programs at the Halo Trust, marking a renewed commitment to addressing the long-standing threat posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war in Afghanistan.

Under the terms of the MoU, mine clearance operations will be conducted in the provinces of Ghazni, Kandahar, Zabul, Helmand, and Herat. The initiative aims to identify and remove hazardous explosive devices from affected communities, improving public safety and enabling residents to return to and utilize previously contaminated land.

Afghanistan remains one of the countries most heavily affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance, decades after successive conflicts left vast areas littered with deadly explosives. These remnants continue to pose a serious risk to civilians, particularly children, farmers, and livestock herders, while also hindering economic development and reconstruction efforts.

Officials expressed hope that the agreement would accelerate humanitarian demining activities and contribute to creating safer living conditions for communities in the targeted provinces. The project is also expected to facilitate the rehabilitation of agricultural land and infrastructure, helping local populations rebuild their livelihoods.

The partnership between ANDMA and the Halo Trust underscores the importance of continued cooperation in addressing one of Afghanistan's most persistent humanitarian challenges and advancing efforts to reduce the devastating impact of landmines on civilian life. (ILKHA)