Suspension of a Demining Organization Due to US Aid Cuts; OCHA: $21.9 Million Needed for Demining Operations in 2025
While a demining organization has announced the suspension of its operations in Afghanistan and 11 other countries due to the freeze on US foreign aid, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has requested $21.9 million for demining operations in Afghanistan for 2025.
The Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) organization announced on Sunday, (February 2), in a statement that the US Department of State had informed them to immediately halt all activities funded by the US, following an executive order by Donald Trump to suspend US foreign aid for 85 days.
The organization added that, following this request, it has suspended all its demining-related activities in Afghanistan and 11 other countries.
Meanwhile, OCHA has stated that $21.9 million is needed for 2025 to continue demining operations in Afghanistan.
OCHA reported that 3.3 million people live near high-risk areas, and on average, 55 people lose their lives monthly due to landmine explosions and remnants of war, with children making up 80% of the victims.
The suspension of US foreign aid has significantly impacted the operations of many humanitarian organizations working in Afghanistan.
Last week, the Taliban’s Ministry of Economy announced that the activities of 50 organizations engaged in humanitarian work had been halted following the suspension of US aid.
This comes as Afghanistan, due to decades of war, remains one of the most heavily contaminated areas with landmines and unexploded ordnance, and the Taliban-led government lacks the will and capacity to clear contaminated areas.
