Disabled individuals in Balkh demand the resumption of foreign aid for mine-clearing projects in Afghanistan
A group of people with disabilities and disability rights activists in Balkh have called for the resumption of financial aid for mine-clearing projects in Afghanistan.
The Disability Rights Advocacy Network of Balkh province, on the eve of “International Day for Mine Awareness” (April 4), held a meeting in Mazar-e-Sharif to warn about the suspension of international financial aid for mine-clearing projects in Afghanistan and called for the resumption of this aid.
According to this group of disability rights defenders, hundreds of kilometers of land in Afghanistan are still contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance, and the suspension of financial resources for mine-clearing projects has put the lives of thousands of civilians, especially children, at serious risk.
The participants in this meeting emphasized that the cut in financial resources not only halts the process of clearing contaminated areas but also, due to recent floods in these areas, has caused mines to shift, spreading the danger to new areas.
They warned that this situation could increase the number of casualties, particularly among children who unintentionally encounter these deadly materials.
These activists called on the international community and donor organizations to resume financial assistance to prevent further humanitarian disaster.
According to a report by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 2024, 455 civilians, including 359 children, have lost their lives due to mine explosions and unexploded ordnance.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has also stated that 3.3 million people in Afghanistan live in mine-affected areas, and on average, 55 people lose their lives monthly due to mine explosions and remnants of war, with children making up 80% of the victims.
OCHA has requested $21.9 million in funding for mine-clearing projects in 2025.
After the suspension of U.S. foreign aid, dozens of humanitarian aid organizations, including those involved in mine-clearing, have either stopped or limited their operations.
On February 2, the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), which had been working in the mine-clearing sector in Afghanistan, announced the suspension of its activities due to the cutoff of financial resources.
The International Day for Mine Awareness (April 4) is observed every year to raise awareness about the human toll of landmines and the need to clear contaminated areas of these deadly materials.