UN Report Highlights Environmental Damage from Toxic Weapons in Afghanistan
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances, has revealed in his latest report the harmful impact of toxic weapons used in Afghanistan. According to the report, remnants of explosives and military munitions from decades of conflict have dangerously contaminated the country’s water and soil resources.
This pollution not only endangers the environment but also poses serious risks to the health and livelihoods of residents in affected areas. The report stresses that these damages should not be regarded merely as collateral consequences of war, but rather as a serious human rights issue that requires thorough documentation and accountability.
While the Taliban authorities claim control over the management of natural resources and the environment, the report notes a lack of effective and transparent measures to address the pollution. The current structures in Afghanistan have remained silent and inactive, a neglect that not only represents a clear violation of fundamental responsibilities but also threatens basic human rights—such as access to clean water and safe land.
The international community is being urged to exert pressure on the Taliban and other involved parties to support efforts for documentation, decontamination, and compensation related to this environmental devastation, in order to help deliver justice and safeguard the health of Afghanistan’s war-affected population.
