James Denselow

As budgets are slashed or repurposed, the aid community needs more innovative thinking about how to make a safer and more stable world. Opinion | James Cowan @TheHALOTrust via @TheNationalNews thenationalnews.com/opinion/commen…

"It’s minus 14 degrees, a sunny February day and - words I never thought I’d ever write - I’m walking through a live minefield in the most mined country in the world." - @RachelSJohnson lbc.co.uk/opinion/views/…

“Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school,” said Prince Harry. Today, the Duke of Sussex joined us in #Angola to meet families living near Africa’s largest minefield - 28 years after his mother brought the issue to the world’s attention.

As of March 2025, Ukraine’s mine-affected land spans an estimated 139,000 square kilometers — or 23% of its territory — covering more ground than all of Greece and posing an immense threat to civilian life and recovery efforts. kyivindependent.com/ukraine-is-big…

We welcome @Vernon_Coaker's statement that the Ottawa Convention continues to play “an important role in protecting civilians from harm caused by anti-personnel landmines” and that the 🇬🇧 UK’s commitment to the treaty “remains unwavering.” ⬇️ ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-confirms-la…

"Syria will be great again" say @SyriaCivilDef at #MineBanIM as they announce that they are looking to develop a "National Mine Action Centre". As @TheHALOTrust Andrew Moore explained - mine clearance needs to be integrated into all facets of the humanitarian response

I am very concerned by announcements by several @UN member countries to withdraw from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. We must uphold humanitarian norms & accelerate mine action. The protection of innocent lives depends on our collective action & commitment.

💥 28 years after the Ottawa Treaty, anti-personnel mines still kill and maim civilians, especially children. ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric warns: weakening the global ban on landmines would put even more civilian lives at risk. Read more 👉🏽 ms.spr.ly/6014StyRg

Russia's use of antipersonnel landmines dropped by quadcopter drones is a barbaric development that endangers civilians & deserves condemnation by @MineBanTreaty states - @hrw justsecurity.org/114293/russia-…

📻 HALO Trust CEO James Cowan on @BBCRadio4’s PM show, discussing the "appalling landmine casualty rate" in Syria, 6 months after the fall of Assad. James says #Syria joining the Ottawa mine ban treaty would benefit the country, and the treaty itself: bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

Mines continue to destroy lives during conflict – and after. Due to funding cuts, demining work has declined in Afghanistan. From almost 300 teams a month working to clear explosive hazards, to only 176 in April this year. @UNReliefChief's message from Afghanistan.👇

Long after the war ends, its deadliest weapons remain. Landmines don’t honour ceasefires — they kill more than 10 people daily, nearly half of them children. James Cowan of The HALO Trust explains why on Talk to Al Jazeera. Watch the full interview here: aje.io/landmines

“A number of these items are brightly colored, shiny objects with interesting shapes, which children would be naturally drawn to” Syria’s deadly landmine legacy nytimes.com/card/2025/04/3…

@QRCS & @TheHALOTrust sign framework cooperation agreement to establish bilateral partnership & open up opportunities of cooperation on humanitarian & development initiatives for communities affected by wars & crises

This week, we’re in 🇨🇭 Geneva for the #NDMUN28 Mine Action Conference. Today, we’re hosting a side event with @UNDP, @UNEP & @GermanyDiplo, discussing how demining operators can best support reconstruction in urban environments devastated by conflict. ➡️ bit.ly/3G0Af0i

Unexploded mines ruin lives. In the last decade, UK work with @theHaloTrust, @MAGsaveslives and others has cleared over 696 million square metres of mine-affected land. On #MineAwarenessDay, we reaffirm our commitment to the Ottawa Treaty and to demining efforts across the world.

A team from 🇬🇧 in 🇿🇼 visited @TheHALOTrust & @MAGsaveslives demining operations in Rushinga & Mudzi & saw firsthand the vital, yet difficult work done by Zimbabwean deminers in challenging conditions. The dedication of these teams to clearing mines & ensuring safety is inspiring.

.@DRC_ngo predicts that more than 6.7 million people are going to be displaced in the coming two years. On top of the more than 122 million people displaced globally already.

“Death is still planted everywhere.” In the desert around Palmyra, mine clearance teams have raked through tonnes of mines, but Syrians are still losing their lives due to unexploded ordnance thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025…

The plague of unexploded munitions continues to strike #Syria. - 44 killed & 27 injured in 28 separate 'UXO' incidents over the past week alone. syriaweekly.com/p/syria-weekly…