KABUL (SW) – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan has reported that every month, 60 people—most of them children—are killed or disabled by leftover landmines from past conflicts.
Afghanistan is one of the most heavily contaminated countries with unexploded ordnance, posing a significant threat to its citizens, especially children.
According to statistics from the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), from the beginning of 2023 to May 2024, 663 people have been killed or injured due to landmine explosions.
About a month ago, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced that over 3,000 square kilometers of land in Afghanistan have been cleared of landmines. However, more than 5,000 identified areas still require demining.
The continued presence of these explosive remnants of war highlights the urgent need for comprehensive mine clearance operations and increased international support to ensure the safety of Afghanistan’s citizens.
