UN warns of landmine threat in Afghanistan, children most at risk

Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most heavily mine-affected countries after decades of conflict, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). In a statement released Sunday, UNAMA highlighted the disproportionate impact of landmines and unexploded ordnance on children, who make up the majority of victims.

The mission called for urgent action to address the ongoing threat, which it said claims lives daily. The HALO Trust, a demining charity, reported that improvised explosive device (IED) contamination in Afghanistan now spans over 65 square kilometers across 26 provinces, up from 53 square kilometers in 2022. Globally, Afghanistan is one of four nations classified as having “massive contamination.”

Efforts to clear landmines have received some support from the Taliban, with reports of the group assisting in removing mines, including those laid during their insurgency. The HALO Trust has also been working to aid communities affected by natural disasters alongside demining initiatives. Despite these efforts, the scale of contamination poses a continued risk to civilians, especially children.