Afghan Children Continue to Pay Deadly Price for Decades of War
Ghazni, 28 March 2026
Four children lost their lives in a single landmine explosion in Afghanistan’s Ghazni Province on Friday, with conflicting reports showing either two or four fatalities in Khogyani District. Afghanistan remains amongst the world’s most mine-contaminated nations, where 3.3 million people live within one kilometre of explosive hazards left from decades of conflict. Children comprise the majority of the 87 people killed by mines in the past year alone.
Contradictory Reports Highlight Information Challenges
The Friday incident in Khogyani District presents conflicting casualty figures from Taliban-controlled media sources. The Taliban’s security command in Ghazni Province initially reported that two children died and two others were injured in the explosion, which occurred in the village of Ali Khan Khil [1]. However, Afghanistan National Radio and Television, also under Taliban control, later reported that four children ultimately perished - two died immediately whilst two others succumbed to their injuries after several hours due to the severity of the wounds [2]. Both sources attributed the explosion to the children’s carelessness [1][2]. The discrepancy in reporting underscores the challenges refugees and displaced populations face in obtaining accurate information about security conditions in their home regions, complicating decisions about potential return.
Decades of Conflict Leave Deadly Legacy
Afghanistan’s protracted conflicts have left vast swathes of the country contaminated with explosive remnants of war. The United Nations warns that Afghanistan remains one of the countries most affected by landmines and explosive remnants, which continue to pose deadly threats to civilians, particularly children [1]. Approximately two-thirds of Afghanistan’s districts are affected by explosive hazards, with 3.3 million people living within one kilometre of such dangers [1]. This widespread contamination directly impacts the safety calculations of Afghan refugees considering voluntary repatriation, as entire communities remain at risk from explosives laid during decades of warfare.
Children Bear Disproportionate Burden
Statistical evidence reveals the devastating impact on Afghanistan’s youngest population. According to the country’s disaster management authority, now under Taliban control, at least 87 people were killed and 33 injured by mines and explosive materials over the past year, with children comprising the majority of victims [1]. This pattern of child casualties has persisted for years, with tens of thousands of Afghans killed or injured over past decades due to explosive hazards [1]. For refugee families, these statistics represent a stark reality that influences decisions about children’s education, movement, and future prospects should they return to Afghanistan.
International Funding Shortfalls Compromise Safety Efforts
The scale of the clearance challenge requires substantial international support that remains uncertain. For 2025, the United Nations appealed for $21.9 million to fund mine surveys, explosive ordnance disposal, clearance operations, and risk education programmes across Afghanistan [1]. However, securing this funding remained largely uncertain due to recent significant changes in global foreign policy, including cuts in humanitarian funding [1]. UNAMA emphasised that mine clearance is dangerous, costly, and slow, highlighting the need for education to prevent accidents and rehabilitation for survivors [1]. The funding shortfall means that dangerous areas will remain uncleared for longer periods, extending the timeline before regions become safe enough for refugee return. Human rights groups and international organisations have repeatedly warned that without large-scale clearance operations and public awareness campaigns, civilians—especially children—will continue to pay the price for Afghanistan’s long-running conflicts [1].