The Hidden War: Landmines' Devastating Legacy

Landmines: The Hidden War That Continues After Peace Deals The world often celebrates the end of armed conflicts, but the true cost of war often lingers unseen, buried beneath the surface. Millions are still affected by the deadly legacy of landmines. These weapons, often costing as little as a dollar to produce, continue to maim and kill long after the guns fall silent. In a recent video by Al Jazeera English, James Cowan, CEO of The HALO Trust, sheds light on this hidden crisis. "Landmines don't honor ceasefires; they kill more than 10 people daily, nearly half of them children," Cowan explains. The HALO Trust, a leading organization in landmine clearance, uses innovative strategies, including drones, artificial intelligence, and even trained rats, to locate and remove these deadly devices. However, their efforts are hampered by insufficient funding. The video showcases the human toll, showing images of children injured by landmines and communities trapped in fear, unable to return to their homes and reclaim their lives. The video concludes with a poignant question: "If war lives underground, are peace deals only surface-deep?" It serves as a stark reminder that true peace requires not only the cessation of hostilities but also the complete removal of the deadly remnants of war and substantial investment in recovery efforts.