United Nations: 78% of Afghanistan mine victims are children

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The United Nations revealed that children constitute 78% of the victims of mine accidents and explosive remnants in Afghanistan during the past eight months, an indication of the continued dangers threatening the population, despite the passage of years since the end of major stages of the armed conflict in the country.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), landmines and unexploded ordnance still pose a daily threat to Afghans, especially children who are at risk of injury or death while playing or moving in areas contaminated with remnants of war.

On Wednesday, October 7, the office published a video clip on the “X” platform documenting the process of destroying unexploded ordnance in Kandahar Province, southern Afghanistan, in the presence of Olga Sharifko, the organization’s representative in the country.

The office stressed that getting rid of these wastes is necessary to protect civilians, in light of the continued presence of quantities of explosives left over from decades of conflicts.

The United Nations warned of a large gap in funding allocated to address the crisis of mines and explosive remnants in Afghanistan.

The OCHA office explained that only $4.3 million was available out of the $14.5 million required to implement response activities, which means that the available funding does not exceed about 30% of the needs.

The financing gap amounts to about $10.2 million, which puts additional pressure on efforts to clear mines, raise awareness of their dangers, and protect residents in affected areas.

Afghanistan is one of the countries that suffers from a long legacy of landmines and unexploded ordnance, the result of more than four decades of wars and conflicts.

During that period, various armed parties planted mines in large areas, while unexploded ordnance remained scattered throughout the country, including populated areas.

In a separate report, Save the Children revealed that at least 338 children were killed or injured by unexploded ordnance, including landmines and other remnants of war, during the period from January 2025 to January 2026.

This number reflects the extent of the continuing danger to children, even in areas that no longer witness direct military confrontations.

The danger of these wastes increases due to the difficulty of distinguishing them, especially for children who may approach them without realizing their nature.

UN figures confirm that ending combat operations does not necessarily mean an end to the dangers of war, as mines and unexploded ordnance remain a long-term threat that requires continuous funding to remove them and reduce further casualties.