The American funding freeze has severe consequences for Norwegian People's Aid and global Mine Action

“A freeze in support for demining not only halts current activities but may delay or, worst case, reverse the enormous strides the world – led by the US – has taken toward combating these brutal weapons. It will prevent displaced people from returning home and, according to our calculations, will have severe consequences for up to half a million people in countries like Iraq, Yemen, Laos, and Vietnam," says Johansen.

In 2024, Norwegian People's Aid received USD 42 million from the US Department of State Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement for humanitarian Mine Action and weapons and ammunition management. Due to the uncertain situation and the aid freeze, the organization has now been forced to lay off 1,700 employees on American contracts in 12 countries. This represents more than half of its 3200 staff.

"Losing more than 40 percent of our Mine Action funding overnight is dramatic for us and our work. However, the highest cost is borne by children, farmers, and mine-affected communities worldwide. Countless lives and limbs that could have been saved are now at risk. War-affected areas that were well on their way to becoming safe face a bleak future," says Johansen.

For 20 years, American funding has been a cornerstone of NPA’s mine action efforts. Over the years, American support has benefited nearly 2.2 million people. In 2024 alone, US funding contributed to securing the daily lives of more than 670,000 people worldwide.

"With American support, NPA has released land equivalent to the size of Norway’s capital Oslo, allowing food production and reconstruction of infrastructure to resume. We have safely removed nearly 600,000 explosive hazards. This has not only promoted food security and economic growth in these areas but prevented undetonated bombs and other explosive remnants from ending up with non-state actors for use in improvised landmines," says Johansen.

"Our call to American authorities is to make a decision on the continuation of US funding to life-saving mine action and disarmament work as soon as possible. This is a humanitarian activity that has historically had broad, bipartisan support in the United States."

NPA will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that our work can continue, but this will require immediate measures and international support.

"We have good dialogue with Norwegian authorities and urge international partners to take an active role in ensuring that this work does not come to a halt."