KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations has announced its support for mine-clearance efforts in Afghanistan, aiming to make land safe for farming, housing, and schools.
ECHO said it is also funding education on the risks posed by landmines and providing medical care and rehabilitation for victims. “Education plays a vital role in keeping civilians safe. Awareness programs teach communities how to recognize warning signs and avoid dangerous areas. In many villages, children learn to identify the shapes and colors of explosives before they can read – a sobering but necessary skill.”
Afghanistan remains one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, a legacy of decades of conflict. According to United Nations data, more than 45,000 Afghan civilians have been killed or injured by landmines and explosive remnants of war since 1989.
The report notes that many victims are children, often injured while chasing balls or tending livestock.
The EU is working with reputable demining organizations, including HALO Trust in Afghanistan, to help restore safety to affected areas.
UN statistics show that 3.3 million people in Afghanistan live within one kilometer of mine-contaminated areas.
Meanwhile, Halo Trust Warns Millions in Afghanistan still at risk from landmines. At least 6.4 million people in Afghanistan remain at risk from landmines and other explosive remnants of war, according to a report by the HALO Trust, released eight months ago. The organization warned that Afghanistan continues to be one of the most landmine-contaminated countries in the world, surpassed only by Ukraine.
On average, about 50 people are killed or injured by explosive devices each month, with more than 80% of the victims being children. The report highlights that around 20% of the population is affected, including hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees forcibly returned from Pakistan and Iran in recent months. Since beginning its work in 1988, HALO Trust has cleared over 800,000 landmines and 11 million unexploded items, benefiting roughly one in five Afghans.
The Afghan Natural Disaster Management Authority, now under Taliban control, reported that 87 people were killed and 33 others injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance in the past year, with the majority of victims being children.
