The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has released a report stating that from January 2022 to June 2023, 640 children were killed or injured due to landmine explosions and unexploded ordnance left over from past wars in Afghanistan. Additionally, in 541 cases of landmine explosions, children were affected, often due to mistaking these explosive devices as toys.
Despite the end of the war in Afghanistan, the ICRC expressed concern that the number of casualties resulting from landmine and other explosive materials has increased since August 2021, with children being the primary victims of such incidents in the country.
The ICRC referred to the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance as "weapon contamination" in Afghanistan and called upon the international community to assist the country in demining and collecting unexploded ordnance.
Just two days before the report's publication, three children were killed and two others were injured by the explosion of a mortar mine in the village of Dar-e-Suf. These children had found the mortar round among old pieces of iron, thinking it was a toy, and unfortunately, their use of it led to their tragic deaths.
According to the ICRC, efforts to demine and clear other explosive materials in Afghanistan have not been successful in recent years, as significant reductions in resources and budget have impacted the demining efforts in the country.
While there is a pressing need for technical and financial support from the international community to reduce the human toll caused by landmine and other explosive detonations, the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan is attempting to continue the demining program in the country, as noted in the report.
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