The US announcement that it would be delivering anti-personnel mines to Ukraine came as a shock to NGOs and governments that have been involved in the fight against landmines for over 30 years. The conference to review the Mine Ban Treaty, held in Cambodia at the end of November, served as a reminder that civilians are the main victims of landmines in wartime, but also long after the fighting has ended.

Channa has been in the care of HI's teams in Cambodia for 12 years. Born with only one leg, she has been receiving regular rehabilitation treatment and prostheses all of her young life.

HI / Atlas Logistique has been deploying the Signal project since 2021 in support of vulnerable populations in fragile contexts. The objective of this innovative project, currently underway in nine countries – Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Haiti, Madagascar, Mozambique and Nepal – is to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian aid by providing the humanitarian community with tools for collecting and analysing data on logistical environments: the Logistics Vulnerability Index (LVI) and the local logistical environment assessment. These tools are designed to identify the logistics vulnerabilities and resilience of local communities.

Like many other civilians, Espoir fell victim to the conflict in North Kivu, DRC. He lost his leg to a bomb and was forced to flee his hometown. Today, his new prosthesis is helping him make plans for the future.

In Madagascar, where the impact of the climate crisis is considerable, HI is working to strengthen community resilience and reduce the risk of disasters.

Elena, 53, was injured in a bomb attack last March. A few days later, her daughter was also injured. Thanks to HI's support, her daughter is now being looked after in a rehabilitation centre.

Persons with disabilities are heavily affected by humanitarian crises, including armed conflicts and climatic disasters. They find it more difficult to protect themselves and are often left out of the aid. HI, which responded to 15 crises in 2023, including Gaza and Ukraine, is committed to ensure that people with disabilities are always included. Focus to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December.

Santina, 13, fled South Sudan with her family. She now lives in the Rhino Refugee Settlement in the West Nile, Uganda.

24 October 2024 was published the landmark report “Powerful Yet Overlooked: African women with disabilities and the ongoing struggle for inclusion, 30 years after Beijing” at the occasion of the 30-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action.

In Colombia, alongside its humanitarian demining work, HI is supporting the development of food sovereignty in the communities.

Published on 20 November, the Landmine Monitor 2024 reports at least 5,757 casualties, representing an increase of 22% from 2022 (4,709 casualties). 84% of the victims were civilians. This high number for the ninth-year running is mainly due to the increase in armed conflicts and the growing use of improvised landmines since 2015.

19 November 2024 marks 1,000 days since the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine. The impact of this war on civilians is catastrophic on numerous levels. Read on.

Climate change is having a very real impact on populations. After torrential rain caused devastating flooding in Niger this summer, HI is providing support to affected families.

The 2024 rainy season has caused catastrophic flooding in Niger, affecting more than a million people. HI has been running emergency operations to support the families concerned.

In parallel to official negotiations, governments, international governmental and non-governmental organisations, such as HI, private sector, academia, and other climate action advocates will also have space to showcase their work, share knowledge and discuss a range of critical climate change issues.