KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan remains among the world’s most heavily contaminated countries with landmines and unexploded ordnance left behind from decades of conflict, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.
In a statement on X, the organization said it is working on awareness programs to educate communities about the dangers of landmines and unexploded explosives.
In November 2024, the Halo Trust, a leading demining organization, reported that landmine contamination in Afghanistan had increased to more than 65 square kilometers, up from 53 square kilometers at the end of 2022.
The contamination has so far been identified in 26 provinces, the report said.
Afghanistan is among four countries with the highest levels of landmine contamination worldwide, with 60 countries currently facing similar hazards.
In 2023, Afghanistan experienced a significant number of casualties due to landmines and unexploded ordnance. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines reported 651 such casualties in the country that year.
Children have been disproportionately affected, comprising 86% of the 1,401 casualties recorded between January 2022 and February 2024.
