Kabul, Feb 8 (NationPress) Tragically, an Afghan child lost their life and another was injured due to an explosion of unexploded ordnance from previous conflicts in the western Badghis province, as reported by the provincial police office on Sunday.

The incident took place while the children were playing in the Sang-e-Atash area on Saturday evening, resulting in the death of one child and injuries to another, according to a statement from Xinhua News Agency.

Afghanistan is known to be among the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. The remnants of over four decades of conflict frequently pose risks to the local population.

On February 4, the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) reported that at least 87 individuals were killed and 333 were injured in 193 incidents involving unexploded ordnance across Afghanistan in the past year, as per local media.

ANDMA Information Department Head Hafiz Mohammad Yousof Hamad stated that the Mine Clearance Coordination Department and demining organizations have cleared 58 kilometers of land of unexploded ordnance in 2025, successfully locating and neutralizing 24,720 mines, according to Pajhwok Afghan News.

Hamad highlighted that a staggering 67.5% of the victims were children, emphasizing the significant impact of unexploded ordnance on the youngest and most vulnerable members of Afghan society. He further mentioned that 155 demining teams are actively working in Afghanistan, providing awareness training to over 2.1 million people in the country during the past year.

Despite these extensive efforts, approximately 105,000 square kilometers of land in Afghanistan remain contaminated with unexploded ordnance, as reported by Pajhwok Afghan News.

On February 3, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) stated that Afghanistan ranks third globally in casualties caused by landmines and unexploded war remnants.

UNAMA revealed that nearly 80% of the victims are children, often injured or killed while playing or accidentally interacting with unexploded ordnance. The organization has called for increased financial support for demining organizations working to eradicate mines and educate the public about explosive risks, as reported by Afghanistan's leading news agency Khaama Press.

According to UNAMA, clearance teams work daily to remove explosive remnants and conduct awareness campaigns to minimize exposure to these deadly materials. The UN mission has urged individuals in Afghanistan to refrain from touching suspicious objects and to report them to the authorities to prevent further casualties.