474 Mine Victims in One Year: Ongoing Silent Threat in Afghanistan

Officials from the National Directorate for Disaster Management have announced that over the past year, at least 474 people have been killed or injured as a result of landmine explosions and unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan.

According to the Directorate, more than one thousand square kilometers of the country’s territory remain contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war; a situation that puts at least seven million people at serious risk.

The widespread contamination by mines not only endangers residents’ lives but also obstructs the use of agricultural land, infrastructure development, and the safe return of displaced persons to their original areas.

Despite years having passed since many conflicts ended, the demining process still faces significant challenges. It is expected that the Taliban administration, by attracting cooperation from national and international organizations, will undertake more effective and transparent measures to reduce civilian casualties and clear contaminated areas.