More than 2.2 million Angolans, about one-fifth of the population, are affected on a daily basis by the presence of landmines and ERW. Some 1,900 communities have limited access to water, roads, and agricultural areas due to mines and ERW resulting from the decade-long war of independence in the 1960s and a civil war lasting until 2002. 287 casualties were reported in 2004 and 2005.

Sources: To Walk the Earth in Safety, June 2006
Landmine Monitor Report, 2006

ROTARY MINE COMB

The Rotary Mine Comb is an innovative tool capable of gently extricating buried objects from the soil and pushing them to the side of the host vehicle's path. The comb's two rotors each contain four soil-engaging tines that intermesh and counter-rotate as the vehicle travels forward. The tines lift and continuously nudge large objects, including anti-tank mines, from the path of the vehicle to the outside edge for neutralization without creating a large berm.

PARTNERS: The HALO Trust - Angola

AIR-SPADE

The Air-Spade uses compressed air at supersonic velocities to rapidly excavate soil, providing a safer alternative to manual mine and UXO excavation. The Air-Spade exerts less than 2 pounds of force on smooth objects such as UXO and mines. The Air-Spade's air-jet, water-jet, vacuum, and vegetation tools ease excavation in difficult soil conditions and provide operators with additional safety by increasing the standoff distance.

PARTNERS: Chilean National Demining Commission, Thailand Mine Action Center, The HALO Trust - Angola