"Today, almost half of all countries are contaminated with mines or unexploded devices, deployed in their millions during military conflicts,” explains Jean-Baptiste Richardier, director of Handicap International. “These deadly weapons are recklessly scattered around populated areas, in camps and gardens, and close to water supplies and communication links. Men, women, children, the elderly–no one is spared."

Humanitarian mine clearance is the only way that these threatened populations can go back to living a normal life. Handicap International intervenes directly or supports local teams who carry out technical surveys, produce mine location maps, delimit and mark minefields, destroy mines and prepare the land for use.

The selection of areas to be cleared is always decided in collaboration with the local authorities. The priority is on areas that play an important role in the daily lives of local communities (e.g., paths near schools or wells). The area is searched inch by inch to locate, identify and destroy all devices.

We also use mechanical methods, mainly to prepare the ground for clearance. Using a machine improves efficiency and helps to guarantee the safety of our teams.

After the ground and the local infrastructure have been cleared, people can return to their homes and rebuild their social and working lives, without fear of being blown up by a hidden device.