UNAMA's Gagnon urges investment in peace, demining to end Afghan fear of mines
KABUL (Afghan Verified) -- Georgette Gagnon, UNAMA Deputy Special Representative in Afghanistan, stated on International Mine Awareness Day that "no Afghan citizen should live in fear of mines."
Speaking at the event, Gagnon called for investment in peace and demining operations, urging the international community to support efforts to clear Afghanistan of explosive remnants of war. "Let us invest in peace, invest in demining, and work together for a future in which no Afghan lives in fear of what lies beneath the ground," she said.
The Taliban Mine Action Authority reported 225 mine and unexploded ordnance incidents from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, affecting 474 people, including 96 killed and 328 wounded. Among the victims were 321 children and 153 adults, with 380 men and 94 women. The province of Kunar recorded 40 incidents, followed by Farah with 23, and high numbers also in Nangarhar, Herat and Kandahar.
Separately, the Red Cross reported 217 mine explosion incidents in 2025 causing 467 casualties, according to Hasht-e Subh.
Demining teams cleared more than 94 square kilometers of land and destroyed over 452,100 mines and unexploded ordnance items, the Taliban authority said. An additional 17,441 items were destroyed following 3,300 hotline calls.
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Where reports agree
- Georgette Gagnon (UNAMA Deputy Special Rep/head) made on-record statement at International Mine Awareness/Day event calling for investment in peace/demining and international support to clear explosive remnants.
- Mines/UXO from decades of war remain a major threat to Afghans, especially children and rural residents.
Where reports differ
- Casualty statistics differ: Taliban authority reports 474 affected (96 killed) Apr 2025-Mar 2026 vs Red Cross 467 casualties from 217 incidents in 2025.
- Specific victim demographics, provinces (Kunar, Farah etc.), and demining achievements reported only by Amu TV.
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