At least five people were killed and three more were wounded in two separate explosions caused by unexploded ordnance (UXO) in two areas in the southern province of Farah in the last two days, Taliban officials confirmed.
One of the incidents happened in Karez-e-Naw village in Farah Rod district of Farah. Five members of one family were killed and two more were wounded when an old mortar shell exploded, said Sabawoon, head of the Taliban information and culture office in Farah.
In a separate incident, one person was critically wounded in a similar explosion in Bala Bulok district in Farah on Thursday afternoon.
A Taliban spokesman said a young man was moving an old rocket when it exploded.
Figures by Taliban’s Directorate of Mine Action Coordination in October showed that civilian casualties from UXO incidents had increased in recent months.
According to the authority, over 500 people were killed or wounded in such incidents over the last year and that vast areas need to be cleared of the remnants of war.
