KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The UN has appealed for $21.9 million to support mine clearance and risk education efforts in Afghanistan, warning that millions remain at risk from explosive ordnance.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a post on X on Sunday that Afghanistan remains heavily contaminated with explosive ordnance, with more than 3.3 million people living within one kilometer of hazardous areas.
The UN agency added that unexploded ordnance kills or injures 55 people each month, with 80% being children.
The funding request comes as the United States, Afghanistan’s largest donor, has suspended its aid, including support for mine clearance projects, leading to a halt in several demining initiatives.
The Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), an organization supporting mine clearance in hazardous region, announced that it has suspended its operations in 12 countries, including Afghanistan, due to the US aid freeze.
In a statement, the organization said the US has been a major donor to its mine clearance efforts worldwide, providing approximately $41 million in funding in 2024 alone.
“We remain hopeful that the new administration will continue to prioritize this vital work, and are entering into dialogue with US authorities and other affected actors with the aim of continuing our partnership for safe, mine-free communities,” NPA said.
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most heavily contaminated areas with remnants of war, including landmines and unexploded ordnance, after enduring decades of conflict, including the Taliban insurgency over the past twenty years.
Dozens of people, mostly children, are killed or maimed each month due to explosions from explosive devices left over from four decades of war and political unrest.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), at least 640 children were killed or injured in 541 incidents involving explosive remnants of war and landmine explosions in Afghanistan from January 2022 to June 2023.
