Local sources in Nangarhar province report that a 12-year-old child has been killed by the explosion of an unexploded ordnance. This tragic event once again highlights the deadly dangers of munitions left over from decades of war in Afghanistan.
The media office of the Taliban governor in Nangarhar announced that the incident occurred on Sunday evening, October 25, in the "Gandamak" area of Sherzad district. According to the statement, the victim, a child named "Hemat," was playing with an old piece of ammunition when it suddenly detonated, killing him instantly.
This incident follows a similar event that occurred recently in the Shinwar district of the same province, where an explosion of old ordnance claimed the lives of four other children. The recurrence of these accidents points to the widespread and dangerous presence of such materials in residential areas.
Afghanistan remains one of the most contaminated countries in the world with landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). These remnants of past wars kill and permanently disable numerous victims each year, with children being particularly vulnerable.
According to official statistics from Afghanistan's Directorate of Mine Action Coordination, a total of 467 people were killed or injured in 217 incidents involving mines and unexploded ordnance across the country last year alone. Among these, 92 people lost their lives, and another 375 were injured.
Even more alarmingly, children are the largest group of victims. Last year, 309 children were among the casualties, accounting for approximately 66% of the total. These children often pick up the deadly objects out of curiosity or a lack of awareness of the danger, mistaking them for toys.
Source: Media office of the Taliban governor in Nangarhar
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