Afghanistan has been ranked third globally for casualties caused by landmines and unexploded war remnants, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Nearly 80% of the victims are children who are often injured or killed while playing or unknowingly touching unexploded ordnance. UNAMA has called for increased financial support for demining organizations to clear mines and raise awareness about explosive risks.
Clearance teams in Afghanistan work daily to remove explosive remnants, while awareness campaigns aim to reduce people’s exposure to deadly materials. The UN mission advises Afghan citizens not to touch suspicious objects but to report them to authorities to prevent further casualties. Approximately 3.3 million Afghans live within one kilometer of areas contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance, a result of decades of conflict in the country.
In a recent incident on January 18, a child was killed and three others were injured in Wardak province after an unexploded ordnance from past conflicts detonated. The device exploded when children mistook it for a toy-like object and began playing with it, leading to the tragic outcome. The injured children were promptly taken to Kabul for medical treatment.
Another incident on January 14 in Nangarhar province resulted in the death of a person after an unexploded ordnance from previous wars detonated. The incident, which occurred in Spinghar district, claimed the life of a shepherd, as reported by provincial police spokesman Sayed Tayeb Hemad.
