Landmines killed, injured over 500 people in Afghanistan last year
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — More than 500 people, including 434 children, were killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan in 2024, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
In a statement released on April 4 to mark International Mine Awareness Day, UNAMA warned that Afghanistan remains one of the most heavily contaminated countries in the world. The mission emphasized that children account for the vast majority of victims, making mine contamination a major threat to future generations.
The figures were also cited by Khaama Press, which reported that 564 people were affected by such incidents in the past year, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
UNAMA noted that decades of conflict have left a devastating legacy, with landmines and unexploded ordnance responsible for thousands of deaths, injuries, and amputations. The mission called for increased international assistance to support demining operations and improve victim support services.
The ICRC recorded 251 landmine-related incidents in 2024, though the actual number of casualties is believed to be higher due to underreporting in remote areas. The continuing presence of landmines remains a major obstacle to the return of displaced people and the rebuilding of conflict-affected communities.
Demining work in Afghanistan is described as dangerous, labor-intensive, and expensive. UNAMA stressed the importance of mine risk education to help prevent future incidents and emphasized the need to empower survivors—many of whom suffer permanent disabilities—with better access to healthcare, employment, and social inclusion.
UNAMA urged the international community to step up support for Afghanistan’s efforts to clear mines and assist victims, warning that without sustained global cooperation, progress toward safety, recovery, and stability will remain painfully slow.
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