To Walk the Earth in Safety 23rd Edition: U.S. Global Leadership in Landmine Clearance and Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United States remains the world’s single largest financial supporter of global conventional weapons destruction efforts, which promote international peace and security by reducing humanitarian hazards from landmines and explosive remnants of war in conflict-affected communities.  The United States also partners with nations worldwide to increase accountability and combat illicit diversion of poorly-secured or otherwise at-risk small arms and light weapons, including man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), and ammunition.

Today’s release of the 23rd edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety, the Department of State’s annual report summarizing the accomplishments of the U.S. Conventional Weapons Destruction Program, highlights the United States’ enduring commitment to making conflict-affected communities safer.  This sets the stage for their recovery and development and improves international security by making it harder for terrorists, drug traffickers, and others to obtain the weapons and ammunition that fuel instability and undermine the rule of law.

• The United States is the world’s leading financial supporter of conventional weapons destruction, providing more than $5.09 billion in assistance to over 125 countries and areas since 1993.  In fiscal year 2023, the United States contributed more than $398.26 million to support conventional weapons destruction efforts in over 82 countries and areas.
• The United States continued funding stockpile management programs worldwide aimed at reducing at-risk weapons and ammunition and improving stockpile security to prevent their diversion to criminals and terrorists.
• The Department of State’s Quick Reaction Force maintained the capability to assist countries on an emergency, first-responder basis, both to assess and provide expert guidance on how to prevent a catastrophic explosion at an ammunition depot, or to help manage the after-effects of such unplanned explosions.
• Proactive community outreach through explosive ordnance risk education programs prevented countless injuries and deaths from explosive remnants of war and landmines, while U.S.-funded survivor assistance provided essential medical and rehabilitation services to people injured by them.
• Working in close cooperation with the Department of Defense and the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of State has helped clear millions of square meters of land, helped millions of at-risk people stay safe through explosive hazard risk education, and assisted thousands of survivors to recover physically and mentally.

In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. government accomplished the following:

• Cleared 191,083,982 square meters (47,218 acres) of land from explosive hazards;
• Provided explosive ordnance risk education to 4,409,998 individuals in person, with millions more reached through social media;
• Provided 71,576 survivors of explosive ordnance with medical or psychological support;
• Conducted 16,269 explosive ordnance disposal callouts in response to urgent requests for unexploded ordnance to be investigated and rendered safe;
• Cleared or destroyed 34,935 landmines;
• Cleared or destroyed 208,977 explosive remnants of war;
• Cleared or destroyed 3,598 improvised explosive devices or components;
• Destroyed 20,501 excess or obsolete small arms and light weapons;
• Marked 12,578 government-owned small arms and light weapons for accountability purposes;
• Destroyed 2,850.86 metric tons of unserviceable ammunition;
• Trained 1,070 personnel in physical security and stockpile management; and
• Built or rehabilitated 84 armories.
• 47 implementing partners made this success possible.

For additional information or to request a printed copy of To Walk the Earth in Safety, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, at pm-cpa@state.gov, and follow us on X (Twitter) @StateDeptPM.  The report is also available on the Department of State website at https://www.state.gov/to-walk-the-earth-in-safety/.