**The journey shines a light on the ongoing risks posed by land mines, especially as countries withdraw from international treaties.**
**Prince Harry Honors Diana's Legacy as Land Mine Concerns Resurge**
**Prince Harry Honors Diana's Legacy as Land Mine Concerns Resurge**
**In Angola, Prince Harry retraces Princess Diana's steps, advocating against the revival of land mines.**
In a poignant tribute to his late mother, Princess Diana, Prince Harry has walked through a minefield in Angola, rekindling awareness on the devastating impact of land mines nearly three decades after Diana's historic visit. The Princess famously spotlighted the land mine crisis during her visit in 1997 amidst the civil unrest in Angola.
On Wednesday, Prince Harry made the journey through a partially cleared minefield in Cuito Cuanavale, an area about 350 miles from where his mother helped draw global attention to the issue. His visit comes at a troubling time as multiple countries are planning to abandon the international anti-land mine treaty established after Diana’s advocacy led to a significant reduction in land mine production and usage globally.
Harry's visit, arranged with The Halo Trust—an organization dedicated to clearing land mines—mirrors his mother's earlier journey. This time, however, he participated in active demining efforts, destroying two anti-tank mines from the Angolan conflict that lasted from 1975 to 2002.
The timing of Prince Harry's visit could not be more critical. Since March, countries such as Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania announced their departures from the anti-land mine convention, citing escalated security concerns following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. These withdrawals are set to take effect later this year, with Finland following closely behind.
Concerns are mounting that land mines may once again proliferate, particularly in war-torn regions like Ukraine, where their devastating impacts on civilians and children are becoming evident. The Halo Trust reported that in Angola alone, over 60,000 casualties related to land mines have occurred since 2008, a number likely underestimated given ongoing devastation.
As Prince Harry continues to advocate against land mines and honor his mother's legacy, he sheds light on a pressing issue that, despite previous global efforts, threatens to return to the forefront of international conflict.
On Wednesday, Prince Harry made the journey through a partially cleared minefield in Cuito Cuanavale, an area about 350 miles from where his mother helped draw global attention to the issue. His visit comes at a troubling time as multiple countries are planning to abandon the international anti-land mine treaty established after Diana’s advocacy led to a significant reduction in land mine production and usage globally.
Harry's visit, arranged with The Halo Trust—an organization dedicated to clearing land mines—mirrors his mother's earlier journey. This time, however, he participated in active demining efforts, destroying two anti-tank mines from the Angolan conflict that lasted from 1975 to 2002.
The timing of Prince Harry's visit could not be more critical. Since March, countries such as Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania announced their departures from the anti-land mine convention, citing escalated security concerns following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. These withdrawals are set to take effect later this year, with Finland following closely behind.
Concerns are mounting that land mines may once again proliferate, particularly in war-torn regions like Ukraine, where their devastating impacts on civilians and children are becoming evident. The Halo Trust reported that in Angola alone, over 60,000 casualties related to land mines have occurred since 2008, a number likely underestimated given ongoing devastation.
As Prince Harry continues to advocate against land mines and honor his mother's legacy, he sheds light on a pressing issue that, despite previous global efforts, threatens to return to the forefront of international conflict.
