Richard Bennett: 67 Percent of Explosive Device Victims in Afghanistan Are Children

Source: Emergency website

Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has expressed concern in a statement about casualties caused by explosive devices in Afghanistan, particularly among children, and has called for an immediate increase in financial support for demining programmes.

The statement was released on Thursday (2 April) ahead of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

Bennett said that Afghanistan remains among the countries most affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance.

According to him, in 2025 alone, 471 civilian casualties were recorded, of which 67 percent were children, mostly boys.

He added that around 24 percent of these incidents occur when children are playing, and in some cases while collecting scrap metal.

Referring to an incident in January in Kunar province, he said that a five month old infant was killed and six others, including children and adults, were injured when an unexploded ordnance detonated while children were playing with it.

Bennett also emphasised that the reduction in international funding in recent years has led to a decline in demining activities, the suspension of some operations and a reduction in educational services, leaving many areas contaminated and putting people, especially children, at continued risk.

According to him, demining is essential not only for clearing land but also for children’s access to education, the safe return of displaced people and the fulfilment of fundamental rights such as the right to life and health.

It is worth noting that Afghanistan is among the countries most contaminated with landmines, explosive remnants of war, cluster munitions and improvised explosive devices, with more than 1,000 square kilometres of land reportedly affected. Around 2.7 million people live within one kilometre of these areas.

The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed annually on 4 April, a day designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005 to raise awareness of the dangers of mines, support the clearance of contaminated areas and assist victims, particularly children.