At least 175 people have been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan during the first five months of 2026, with children accounting for the vast majority of casualties, the UN agency, OCHA, said on Thursday.
OCHA said that 75 percent of those killed or wounded between January and May were children, underscoring the continuing threat posed by decades of conflict.
OCHA said humanitarian organizations require $14.5 million this year to continue mine action programs in Afghanistan, but only $3.6 million had been secured by June.
“Urgent support can prevent more casualties,” the agency said.
Speaking during a visit to eastern Afghanistan, Olga Cherevko, OCHA’s head of communications in Afghanistan, said the country has the third-highest number of casualties from unexploded ordnance worldwide, adding that children account for about 80 percent of the victims.
She said an average of 50 people are killed or injured every month by landmines and unexploded ordnance across Afghanistan.
“Mine clearance and explosive ordnance risk education save lives by clearing contaminated land, raising awareness and protecting communities,” Cherevko said. “But these activities face severe funding shortages, and many programs are being reduced or suspended even as the danger persists.”
She warned that every unexploded munition left in the ground continues to pose a potentially deadly threat to civilians.
The UN figures come as Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most heavily contaminated countries with landmines and unexploded explosives left behind by more than four decades of conflict.
According to the Taliban-run National Disaster Management Authority, the ANDMA, 225 landmine and unexploded ordnance incidents were recorded between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, leaving 96 people dead and 378 others injured.
The ANDMA said the incidents resulted in 474 casualties, including 321 children and 153 adults. Men accounted for 380 victims, while 94 were women.
Among the provinces, Kunar recorded the highest number of incidents with 40, followed by Farah with 23. Nangarhar, Herat and Kandahar were also among the provinces most affected by landmine-related accidents.
Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that funding cuts are forcing mine clearance operations to scale back at a time when millions of Afghans, particularly children, remain exposed to the dangers of unexploded ordnance.
