Perched on the ridges of a valley in Berdzor (Lachin), we sit in the sparse living area of a three-storey base camp.

Here, Narine Asatryan tells me that finding a landmine is a feeling like no other. She is one of The HALO Trust’s de-miners, and has found two anti-personnel mines so far.

For her, working as a de-miner offers a chance to make a positive effect in her community. 

Amid heavy snow, the electricity is out across the entire region, and heat is provided by a gas stove in the centre of the room. Beneath the house, a steep hillside descends into the wintry valley below.

One of the toughest parts of the job is working in such extreme weather, says Inga Avanesyan, another HALO de-miner.

Today, the team has had to stand down because the snow prevents them from working. But the snow is nothing compared with the other challenges they face. 

The inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh have suffered from the dangerous legacy of war for over two decades.

The Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988-1994) took place between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan, over the landlocked mountainous region.

Today, landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to contaminate the land, putting lives at risk and crippling the region’s economy. 

Dedicated to clearing landmines across the world, The HALO Trust has been operating in Nagorno- Karabakh since 2000.

In 2015, HALO employed its first, female de-mining team; there are now 11 women, with more undergoing training this year.

Defying traditional gender roles, they are able to provide for their families as well as making a tangible difference in their communities.