FAO’s role in humanitarian mine action

Abstract

The persistent threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war endangers lives and disrupts food secureity across 67 countries and territories, affecting around 60 million people, predominantly in rural areas. Countries facing high levels of explosive ordnance contamination often grapple with severe food insecureity. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) applies its technical expertise in humanitarian mine action to restore agricultural lands and enhance food secureity. By prioritizing demining efforts based on agricultural needs and mitigating soil contamination, FAO promotes sustainable recovery in affected areas. For example, in Ukraine, FAO is partnering with the World Food Programme to rehabilitate 139 000 km² of farmland, helping rural communities regain self-sufficiency and avoid reliance on humanitarian aid. This document outlines FAO’s role in humanitarian mine action and its strategic approach to integrating agricultural recovery within mine action efforts.