UNAMA, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, has recently announced that 80% of the victims of mine explosions and unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan are children.
In a message posted on its Facebook account on Wednesday, April 2, the organization stated that Afghanistan ranks third in the world for casualties caused by explosive materials.
UNAMA further emphasized that nearly 50 people are killed or injured each month as a result of explosions from munitions and mines left over from the war in Afghanistan, with approximately 80% of them being children.
The statement noted that almost every day, at least one incident occurs, and there is a high likelihood that the victim will be a child.
The UN political office in Afghanistan highlighted that nearly 90% of these incidents are caused by explosions of unexploded munitions and other remnants of war from the past four decades.
UNAMA reported that over 1,000 square kilometers of land contaminated with explosive materials have been identified. Approximately 900 educational institutions and more than 200 health centers are located within one kilometer of these contaminated areas.
The organization stated that a lack of funding is the biggest obstacle to demining efforts.
Additionally, the United Nations has repeatedly called for immediate funding to clear Afghanistan of threats posed by explosive remnants of war.
