Serbia: Clearing the Way for Kosovo’s Future: 27 Years After War, HALO Leaves Kosovo Safe to Rebuild
Country: Serbia Source: HALO Trust Pristina, Kosovo, 23 September 2026 - The HALO Trust is celebrating the conclusion of its humanitarian landmine clearance in Kosovo today after 27 years. In 1999, when Kosovo’s refugees returned home, they found a country devastated by war — and a landscape scarred by landmines and unexploded cluster munitions. The conflict had ended, but danger remained just below the surface. More than 800,000 people were displaced during the 1998–99 conflict. In the first month after the war, an estimated 150 people were killed or injured by landmines, 71% of them under 24-years-old. “I have just come back from Gaza and the destruction there is very familiar to me. It’s what Kosovo looked like when the refugees returned home in 1999,” said Agron Boshtraj, who was trained by HALO and joined as a deminer when the conflict ended. Today, Kosovo is a very different country. Its economy has grown to more than $14 billion, life expectancy is close to 78 years, and communities have rebuilt their homes, schools, businesses,, and lives. “Kosovo shows us that the real impact of removing landmines and cluster bombs is not measured in hectares cleared, but in what that land makes possible over time,” said Atholl Stewart, HALO Kosovo’s last programme manager. Cleared land has become fertile farmland and safe roads have enabled vital infrastructure to develop, giving families and businesses the confidence to rebuild and invest. Pristina Airport, which now welcomes almost five million passengers every year, could only be redeveloped after a nearby minefield was cleared, and hundreds of cluster bombs had to be removed before the key E851 motorway corridor could be built through areas such as Arllat. Around Peja in the west, clearing contaminated mountain trails has helped to unlock a flourishing tourism economy, with the city now receiving around 150,000 visitors a year. The country’s recovery reflects many factors — peace, political stabilisation, investment,, and the determination of its people - but those things needed safe ground on which to take root. “Mine clearance was not the outcome of Kosovo’s recovery. It was one of the prerequisites that made recovery possible,” Stewart added. ENDS Notes to editors: Some of HALO’s Kosovar employees are now leading its operations in Syria and Ukraine. Investing in their endeavours now will be critical to stabilising both countries. The HALO Trust is the world's largest humanitarian landmine clearance organisation. HALO works in 30+ countries including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Colombia, Angola and Sri Lanka. We deploy groundbreaking technology in conflict and post-conflict settings to help people rebuild their homes, restore their livelihoods and keep their children safe. HALO also runs programmes in weapons and ammunition management and safety training. During emergencies, we also provide humanitarian aid and logistical support. HALO was founded in 1988 in Afghanistan. We employ over 8,000 staff worldwide and recruit 95% of them locally.
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