Mines Advisory Group

It’s a life-changing humanitarian charity that has saved millions of lives since it was established in 1989.

Mines Advisory Group is often one of the first agencies to enter conflict zones. It clears up many of the world’s bloodiest messes. Its work is to organise the disarming and destruction of landmines, bombs and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) around the world.

This remarkable organisation runs from the heart of Manchester, employing a global workforce of 2, 579 staff from 52 countries. Started by two brothers Rae and Lou McGrath out of a caravan in Cumbria, the charity (read their story here) has become one of the world’s most respected mine action organisation in the world (alongside another British charity, the Halo Trust).

Initially, MAG provided technical assessments for Afghanistan and Cambodia. In 1992, it set up an operation in northern Iraq to embark upon mine risk education - teaching local people about the risks and dangers they faced. By 1994, MAG was also operating in Angola, Cambodia and Laos. It was part of a lobbying coalition, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). The ICBL’s campaign led to the Ottawa Treaty, which banned the production and use of anti-personnel mines - and which led to the ICBL being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.

Today, it has trained thousands of field workers to conduct this exacting and dangerous work in xx countries. It continues to be a pioneer; for example, training people who have lost limbs to landmines to be able to clear mines and thus make land safe again for their families and communities. The impact of MAG's operations around the globe is huge; 1.46m people are estimated to be direct beneficiaries of its work.