RASC News Agency: The demining organization, HALO Trust, reports that landmine contamination in Afghanistan has now surpassed 65 square kilometers, underscoring a growing threat from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the country. According to the report, contaminated areas covered approximately 53 square kilometers by the end of 2022. This figure has since increased, with contamination identified across 26 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces.
The report, released on Monday, reveals that 60 countries and regions worldwide are grappling with landmine contamination, with Afghanistan among the four most severely impacted. The report states, “Sixty countries and various regions globally are affected by landmines. Halo Trust operates in a third of these countries, including the four most heavily impacted: Afghanistan with 2,235 deminers, Cambodia with 1,191 personnel, Iraq with 83, and Ukraine with 1,376.”
Halo Trust underscores that the prevalence of landmines and explosive devices in Afghanistan surpasses that in most other countries where it operates. Decades of conflict and civil unrest have littered Afghanistan with IEDs, posing an ongoing threat to civilians, particularly children. The presence of these devices continues to endanger countless lives. The executive director of Halo Trust noted that this report serves as a global warning, especially given the increase in conflict worldwide.
He emphasized that without comprehensive demining, recovery from conflict and the provision of safe refuge for displaced persons will remain out of reach. “As long as landmines remain, thousands of civilians will continue to live in fear,” he added. It’s worth noting that armed conflict persists in Afghanistan, with various factions continuing to employ landmines and other explosive devices, exacerbating the situation further.
