Children Major Victims of Unexploded Ordnance in Afghanistan
CISR
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(Khaama) The International Red Cross reported that 82% of the victims of unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan are children. In the first half of this year, 320 civilians were killed or injured due to unexploded ordnance, with 264 of them being children. This alarming trend highlights the severe impact on Afghan children, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also reporting similar figures, noting that 89% of victims are children.
OCHA data shows that from January 2022 to February 2024, 1,401 people were killed or injured by explosive materials. The Red Cross has warned that inadequate funding for mine clearance could place the lives of 3.4 million Afghans at risk. The ongoing contamination underscores the urgent need for increased support and international action to protect vulnerable populations and reduce the hazards posed by these deadly remnants of war.
