Afghanistan has the third highest explosive ordnance casualty rate in the world, with around 50 people killed or injured every month, of which almost 80 percent are children. That means there is at least one casualty every single day, and that casualty is most likely to be a child. 90 percent of these casualties are from unexploded ordnance and abandoned munitions that have been left behind after over 40 years of conflict.
There are over 1,000 square kilometres of land known to be contaminated in Afghanistan: that’s over 140,000 soccer pitches. Almost 3 million people, around 900 education facilities, and over 200 healthcare facilities are known to be within 1 kilometre of explosive ordnance contamination, although these figures could be much higher as many districts have yet to be fully surveyed.
The biggest challenge faced by mine action is the lack of funding. The de facto authorities are supportive of the sector, an improved security situation means that access is possible across the country, and Afghanistan is a signatory to all international demining conventions. With increased funding, there is a very real opportunity to free this country from contamination, allowing Afghan people to restore their livelihoods, unhindered by the remnants of war.
