11 Killed and Injured in Landmine Explosions in Nangarhar

Afghanistan: Over the past three months in Nangarhar, 11 people have been killed or injured as a result of explosions caused by old landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Officials say that the majority of the victims are children who came into contact with unexploded munitions while grazing livestock in mountains and open fields.

Sayed Tayeb Hamad, spokesperson for the Nangarhar Police Command, said: “Over the past three months in Nangarhar, seven people have been killed and four others injured due to explosions of unexploded ordnance, most of whom were children. They were grazing livestock in remote areas and, due to carelessness, came into contact with these unexploded materials, which later detonated and caused casualties. During the same period, the engineering team of the Nangarhar Police Command discovered and destroyed nearly 24 pieces of unexploded ordnance.”

Meanwhile, victims of these explosions are calling on the Islamic Emirate and relevant institutions to clear areas that remain contaminated with landmines and old munitions.

In deserts and remote areas where many residents are nomadic communities people are more frequently exposed to such incidents while grazing livestock.

It is believed that if unexploded munitions remaining from past wars are cleared, the number of casualties would significantly decrease.

The Nangarhar Police Command has also urged citizens to avoid traveling to areas contaminated with unexploded ordnance.