In 2024, more than 500 Afghan children lost their lives or were severely injured due to unexploded ordnance and remnants of war, according to UNICEF. The United Nations Children’s Fund highlighted this alarming statistic in a post on X. This post emphasize the ongoing threat to Afghan communities.
UNICEF on X
“In 2024, more than 500 children were killed or gravely injured by unexploded ordnances or explosive remnants of war. UNICEF educated around 3 million children and caregivers on the risks of explosive ordinances last year, including how to identify, avoid and report them,” UNICEF Afghanistan said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
In 2024, more than 500 children were killed or gravely injured by unexploded ordnances or explosive remnants of war.
UNICEF educated around 3 million children and caregivers on the risks of explosive ordnances last year, including how to identify, avoid and report them. pic.twitter.com/b3wtEA9dEt
— UNICEF Afghanistan (@UNICEFAfg) January 5, 2025
Ongoing Threats and HALO Trust’s Findings
The HALO Trust which is a demining organization also reported in November that over 65 square kilometers of land across 26 provinces in Afghanistan remain contaminated with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). Afghanistan ranks among the four most heavily mine-contaminated countries globally, according to HALO. The organization, which operates with over 2,200 demining personnel, stressed the need for further international support.
Landmines and Their Impact
The Taliban planted landmines during the previous government’s rule to target foreign and former Afghan security forces without systematic mapping. This contamination poses a grave threat, especially to children playing in or around affected areas.
In addition to the ongoing demining efforts, the World Food Program (WFP) has revealed that it can only provide aid to seven million out of the 14 million people facing hunger in Afghanistan due to a shortage of funding.
