Watch as Harry walks through a cleared minefield in Angola, following in his mother’s footsteps. Credit: The HALO Trust
The Duke of Sussex said “children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school” as he visited Africa’s largest minefield, continuing his mother’s campaign against landmines.
Prince Harry, who is the patron of the anti-minefield HALO Trust, visited Cuito Cuanavale in Angola, where he witnessed the dangers still faced by local families.
He wore a protective vest as he walked through a cleared path in a minefield, echoing Diana, Princess of Wales’ visit to the country in 1997.
The Prince also helped the landmine clearance charity set off controlled explosives at the site.
The HALO Trust said that at least 60,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines in Angola since 2008 – and more than 1,000 minefields remain to be cleared across Angola.
Harry met families who live in a remote village near Africa’s largest minefield as part of the charity’s community outreach programme, which aims to keep them safe from landmines until they’re cleared by experts.
He said: “Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school. Here in Angola, over three decades later, the remnants of war still threaten lives every day.”
“The Angolan government’s continued commitment is a powerful testament to HALO’s success in saving lives and reducing humanitarian risk. We thank President Lourenço for his leadership and partnership, as well as continued donor support as we work together towards completing the mission of a landmine-free country.”
Harry also travelled to the country in 2019 and walked through a minefield to highlight the ongoing threat of the munitions.
During the visit, he retraced his mother’s footsteps in Humabo, where she was famously photographed walking through a cleared path in a minefield.
The images of her in protective equipment gave the anti-landmine campaign global recognition.
Harry held a meeting with the President Lourenço in Luanda on Tuesday, where he welcomed “the Angolan government’s renewed commitment to supporting demining efforts across the country.”
The HALO Trust said they discussed a new three-year contract between the government and the charity.
CEO James Cowan said: “We are hugely grateful to President Lourenço for his leadership and to the Duke of Sussex for his personal commitment to HALO’s work in Angola.
“This new contract is an important step forward in our mission to make Angola mine-free, and we will continue our work in solidarity with the Angolan people until every last mine is cleared.”
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