Two individuals lost their lives when an unexploded shell detonated inside a residential house in Farah province, western Afghanistan. The tragic incident occurred in the Pusht-e-Koh district after the munition exploded upon impact within the home, as per the provincial police office’s statement. Authorities are urging residents to be vigilant and report any unexploded ordnance or suspicious objects to security forces promptly.
The threat of unexploded remnants from past conflicts looms large over civilian lives in Afghanistan, especially in rural and remote regions where such hazards can go undetected for extended periods. In a separate incident on February 7, a child was killed and another injured in Badghis province due to an unexploded ordnance blast from previous wars. The provincial police office confirmed the tragic event, stating that it occurred while the children were playing in the Sang-e-Atash area.
According to the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), 87 individuals lost their lives, and 333 others sustained injuries in 193 incidents involving unexploded ordnance in the country over the past year. Hafiz Mohammad Yousof Hamad, the head of ANDMA’s Information Department, highlighted that children accounted for 67.5% of the victims, underscoring the disproportionate impact on Afghanistan’s youngest and most vulnerable population. Despite ongoing efforts by 155 demining teams, approximately 105,000 square kilometers of land in Afghanistan remain contaminated with unexploded ordnance.
