UN: Over 290 Civilian Deaths, Nearly 90% Child Casualties from Landmines in Afghanistan

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that 292 civilians were killed in Afghanistan in the first half of 2023 due to landmines and unexploded ordnance, with a staggering 89% of these casualties being children, Khaama Press reported yesterday.

Since 1989, landmines have claimed 45,000 victims in the country. OCHA warns that a decline in funding for mine clearance and victim assistance threatens an additional 3.4 million people.

The report indicates that landmine incidents remain the second leading cause of civilian casualties, with 1,401 victims recorded between January 2022 and February 2024.

Currently, 1.2 million square meters of land across 262 districts are contaminated. The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, emphasizing the urgent need for increased international aid to protect vulnerable populations, especially children, from the devastating impacts of landmines and explosive remnants.