Last year in Afghanistan, 471 civilians were killed as a result of explosions from unexploded ordnance. The data was presented by UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Richard Bennett ahead of the International Day for Mine Awareness, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country.

According to the report, the brunt of the tragedy falls on the most vulnerable part of the population – 67 percent of the fatalities were children. Incidents often occur when children find mines during play and mistake them for toys, accounting for 24% of all explosion-related deaths. This is a direct consequence of decades of protracted wars, leaving behind a deadly legacy.

Richard Bennett emphasized that the mass loss of life on mined lands constitutes a gross violation of the fundamental human right to life. Despite efforts by sappers who cleared significant areas in 2025, the situation remains critical, posing threats to security and stability in Afghanistan.

The UN representative called on the international community to urgently increase funding for demining programs to halt the series of deaths among civilians and, above all, protect the lives of Afghan children. This appeal underscores the depth of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the inadequacy of the international response.

Source: podrobno.uz