Afghanistan: Communities still endangered by mines and unexploded ordnance
As the world marks the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on 4 April, the scale of weapon contamination in Afghanistan and its life-altering impact on civilians are reminders of the need to step up efforts to support communities in dealing with these deadly threats.
Tragedy struck six-year-old Zahida in September 2024, when she picked up an object she didn’t recognize as she was gathering firewood near her home in Andar, Ghazni Province. As other children tried to take it from her, it exploded. “I lost my leg,” she says.
Her father Nuqrudin recounts the horrifying moment he received a call saying that there had been an explosion in front of his house. “I rushed home and saw blood everywhere. My neighbours told me that Zahida’s condition was critical, and she had been taken to the district hospital. She was terrified when I met her. ‘I didn’t pick it up, it was the boys,’ she told me as I held her and calmed her down. The doctors urged me to take her to a hospital in Kabul, where she underwent surgery.
Zahida’s tragedy is unfortunately just one of many in Afghanistan, which remains among the countries most contaminated by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and abandoned improvised explosive devices. Following four decades of armed conflict, explosive hazards scattered across the country are a silent but deadly threat for communities, especially for families returning home after having fled the violence and for children who unknowingly stumble upon these lethal objects.
In 2024, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recorded that there were 434 children among those injured or killed in 251 incidents linked to diverse forms of explosive ordnance. This accounts for over 76 per cent of the total number of recorded casualties, though the actual number may be higher.
The diagram shows the most UXO-contaminated regions in Afghanistan.
“Landmines and explosive remnants of war do not only disrupt daily life and hamper economic development, they also lead to heartbreaking tragedies, particularly among children,” says Katharina Ritz, head of the ICRC delegation in Afghanistan. “Recent decreases in resources and funding are already having an impact on the efforts to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance, which puts more lives at risk and may lead to more tragic stories. It is crucial that the international community and humanitarian agencies support communities in dealing with the consequences of weapon contamination. The ICRC is committed to playing its role.”
Mine awareness: protecting lives through education
Between 2023 and 2024, the ICRC, in partnership with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), trained 100 volunteers to conduct Risk Awareness and Safer Behaviour (RASB) sessions across five regions of Afghanistan particularly contaminated by mines and UXOs.
"The war left behind countless unexploded weapons, making everyday life a constant risk. I attended the ICRC’s sessions and learned how to identify and avoid hazardous objects. Now, I teach my family members to never touch unfamiliar objects and always report them to the authorities,” says Zahida’s father Nuqrudin.
Lack of awareness about unrecognized explosive objects is a major challenge. “Our RASB sessions are a lifeline for communities that are still grappling with deadly remnants of war. The sessions empower people to make informed decisions, reduce economic and social disruptions, and encourage the safe reporting and disposal of explosive hazards,” says Frederic Faust, who leads the ICRC’s programme dealing with weapon contamination in Afghanistan.
Zakira Mohibi an ARCS RASB volunteer from the Andar district of Ghazni Province.
Zakira Mohibi, an ARCS volunteer from Ghazni Province, chose to volunteer as an RASB trainer because of the alarming risk of unexploded ordnance in her village following past conflicts. “Too many people have fallen victim to these hidden dangers. After attending our sessions people understand they must take serious precautions and never touch unidentified objects.”
Children of a community with an ARCS RASB volunteer addressing the risks of explosive hazards.
With the ICRC’s support, ARCS volunteers successfully made 243,000 people—149,000 children, 46,000 men, and 48,000 women – aware of the risks associated with explosive hazards last year in five UXO-contaminated regions. Additionally, 301 community leaders from at-risk areas attended specialized RASB training so that they could share their learnings to ensure broader awareness and safer communities.
This work is vital for preventing tragedies and helping Afghan communities reclaim their lives without fear. They complement other prevention efforts including awareness campaigns on social media and through local radio stations, which have reached an estimated five million people in 2024, including in remote areas or places more at risk because of floods and landslides.
Post-incident support: rebuilding lives after tragedy
The devastating impact of UXOs extends far beyond the initial explosion, leaving victims and their families struggling with emotional, physical, psychosocial and financial burdens. To help ease this suffering, the ICRC provides direct cash assistance and economic support to those affected, covering emergency expenses such as medical treatment and funeral costs or for long-term rehabilitation services and opportunities to lead fulfilling lives.
Victims receive social and physical rehabilitation services at the ICRC’s seven Physical Rehabilitation Centres (PRCs) across Afghanistan. These centres offer prosthetic limbs, physiotherapy, opportunities for social integration through sports and vocational training, and interest-free microcredit loans to help people with disability rebuild their lives and establish small businesses. In 2024, the PRCs provided rehabilitation services to 6,960 landmine survivors, including 253 newly registered patients.
Saleh Mohammad, a 22-year-old scrap metal collector from Kabul’s 12th district at the ICRC’s PRC in Kabul.
Saleh Mohammad, a 22-year-old scrap metal collector from Kabul, shares how nudging a strange object with his foot triggered an explosion and shattered his life. “My cousin rushed me to the hospital, but my life was never the same again – I lost my leg and could no longer work to support my family. Now I tell people: never touch unidentified objects. They might seem harmless or even interesting, but they can be deadly,” he says.
Saleh, who was helping his elderly father provide for their family of ten before the injury, has been visiting the ICRC’s physical rehabilitation centre for the past three months to receive treatment and an artificial limb. With the ICRC’s support, he is now on the path to regaining independence and rebuilding his future.
On the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, we are reminded that armed conflicts have long lasting consequences, and that mines and explosive remnants of war remain deadly for communities even after large-scale hostilities have ceased. This year’s theme – “Safe Futures Start Here” – points to the importance of providing communities with information that can help them detect risks and adopt the right behaviour to stay safe. Beyond that, the scale of the issue of weapon contamination in Afghanistan highlights the need for the international community to join efforts and provide technical and financial support to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance in order to reduce the disruption they cause.
