Support and Protect Families in Afghanistan

This doctor clinic in Jaghatu district is surrounded by steep mountains is nestled at the bottom of a place known by locals as ‘blood valley.’ It is situated on a main supply route, which made it an important military position for warring groups. Additionally, the clinic itself and the well located within the clinic’s walls were used frequently by fighters for the last forty years.

This clinic is heavily relied on by the community. Over 50 people visit it every day for medical treatment. But this comes at a risk. Simply visiting a doctor in blood valley requires men, women, and children to walk through an IED field. IEDs were even buried within the clinic walls.

Writing scrawled on the side of the clinic says: 'This clinic has been mined, enter at your own risk'

A local guard who has worked there for over 25 years told HALO they have witnessed at least eight accidents from IEDs over the last year alone around the clinic.

The HALO Trust started clearing this area in August. HALO deminers are hard at work each morning making the clinic safe, pausing in the afternoon so that the clinic can open. So far, they have found and destroyed 5 IEDs.

To make the clinic safe, HALO deminers will need to clear almost 9 acres of land. And so far, 2.5 acres have been made safe.