KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that children in Afghanistan are still suffering severely from unexploded ordnance left behind by years of conflict.
On Sunday, April 19, the organization highlighted the issue by sharing a video of a child who lost a leg in a landmine explosion.
The ICRC also reported that in 2025 alone, approximately 217 mine-related incidents were recorded across the country, resulting in 467 casualties. These figures underline the persistent danger posed by unexploded ordnance to civilians, especially children.
Previously, Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur for Afghanistan, urged the international community to prioritize funding and support for mine clearance efforts in the country.
Explosive remnants of war, including unexploded mortar shells and landmines left over from decades of conflict, remain a persistent danger to Afghan civilians, especially children who may mistake them for toys or useful scrap.
Afghanistan is one of the world’s most heavily mine-contaminated countries, with millions of people living in or near affected areas, according to the United Nations.
The country ranks among the highest globally for casualties from mines and explosive remnants of war. Children are disproportionately affected, often while playing outdoors or collecting metal.
A recent report by Save the Children highlighted the scale of the problem, stating that nearly one Afghan child is killed or injured by explosive ordnance every day on average. Between January 2025 and January 2026, the organization documented 338 children killed, injured or permanently disabled by such devices, accounting for nearly 70% of all victims in that period.
Meanwhile, demining and risk-education efforts have slowed in recent years amid declining international funding, forcing some United Nations agencies and humanitarian groups to reduce or close mine-action projects.
Aid groups and UN agencies continue to call on international donors to maintain and increase funding to sustain clearance operations and expand community-based education programs aimed at preventing further civilian casualties.
The ongoing presence of landmines not only causes immediate loss of life and injury but also limits access to education, agriculture, and safe living conditions. Expanding demining programs, raising public awareness, and ensuring long-term international support remain critical steps toward protecting vulnerable communities and preventing further tragedies.
