The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that over 500 Afghan children were either killed or injured in 2024 due to explosions from unexploded ordnance and war remnants. During the same year, UNICEF trained three million children and their guardians to recognize and avoid explosive hazards. On January 5, UNICEF shared a photo on social media of children participating in training on how to identify and stay safe from explosive remnants.
According to a report by HALO Trust, a demining organization, more than 65 square kilometers of land across 26 provinces in Afghanistan remain contaminated with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Afghanistan is among the four most mine-contaminated countries globally, with HALO employing 2,235 personnel for demining efforts.
“In 2024, more than 500 children were killed or seriously injured due to explosions ordnance or war remnants. UNICEF educated around 3 million children and caregivers on the risks, including how to identify, avoid, and report explosive ordnance,” UNICEF Afghanistan stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Under the previous government, the Taliban indiscriminately planted landmines on roads and farmlands, targeting security lines of the former government and foreign forces without proper mapping. This widespread contamination continues to endanger local communities, especially children.
In addition to demining efforts, the World Food Program (WFP) disclosed it can only assist seven million of the 14 million people facing hunger in Afghanistan due to funding shortages. WFP’s emergency head, Pauline Eloff, noted on X that for every two families needing food assistance, only one could be helped.
The WFP has urged the international community to increase support for demining operations to reduce the risks posed by explosive remnants and prevent further casualties. Many families in remote areas are expected to rely on food aid to survive the winter. The WFP has delivered essential supplies to some villages, warning that without continued assistance, some families may not survive the season.
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