UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, has announced that in the year 2024, more than 500 children have been killed or injured due to the explosion of unexploded ordnance left over from the war in Afghanistan.
UNICEF released this statistic today (Sunday, January 6) in a statement on its X account.
The United Nations Children’s Fund emphasized that last year, awareness and education about the dangers of landmines and other unexploded ordnance were provided to approximately three million children in Afghanistan.
According to reports, millions of square meters of land in Afghanistan are contaminated with landmines and other unexploded ordnance.
Recently, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Afghanistan stated that in 2024, 455 individuals have been killed or injured in incidents related to explosive hazards.
The ICRC emphasized that this year, 234 incidents related to explosive hazards have been recorded in Afghanistan.
The International Committee of the Red Cross added that Afghanistan remains one of the most vulnerable countries to explosive hazards.
Due to decades of war, parts of Afghanistan are contaminated with mines and explosive materials.
The United Nations states that three million people in Afghanistan live within a one-kilometer radius of landmines and explosive remnants of war.
The ICRC has reported that together with the Afghan Red Crescent Society, they have raised awareness for over 240,000 people across the country in 2024.
It should be noted that in recent months, the number of casualties from landmine explosions has increased due to the return of Afghan migrants to the country. The demining organization “HALO Trust” recently reported that over 65 square kilometers of land in Afghanistan are contaminated with homemade explosives.
It is worth mentioning that decades of war and the presence of various groups have contributed to the planting of these mines in Afghanistan.
