"United Nations-supported mine action activities in Afghanistan contributed to the removal of approximately 80,000 anti-personnel landmines, 900 anti-tank mines and 2.5 million explosive remnants of war during the past 12 months, and provided mine risk education to more than 750,000 men, women, girls and boys. The number of casualties dropped in 2009 to under 50 victims per month, the lowest level in over 10 years." The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security (S/2009/475), United Nations Report of the Secretary General, 22 September 2009
For more information, see also the Monitor's posts on landmines and IEDs (improvised explosive devices).
Last updated: August 2010
Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan
2010
Mine Action Achievements Summary January - June 2010:
- 11,394 AP mines, 495 AT mines, and 456,990 ERW destroyed.
- 100 communities cleared of mines and other explosive remnants of war.
- 228,552 women and girls and 313,888 men and boys received MRE throughout the country.
(Source: Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan Newsletter: June 2010, Electronic Mine Information Network (c/o ReliefWeb), June 2010)
United Nations Casualty Data
2010
- "According to the [Mine Action Coordination Centre], a total of 51,743 anti-personnel mines, 1,152,738 explosive remnants of war and 746 anti-tank mines were destroyed in 2009 in Afghanistan. It estimates there are still 2,082 contaminated communities in the country, and that some 600 square kilometres of land containing 5,384 hazardous areas still needs to be cleared of mines and explosive remnants of war." Top UN envoy to Afghanistan urges greater efforts to avoid civilian casualties, UN News Centre, 15 April 2010
Landmine Monitor Casualty Data
Casualties in 2008
992 (2007: 811)
Demining in 2008
Mined area clearance: 51.5km2
Battle area clearance: 121.1km2
Total clearance: 172.6km2
Other land release: 85.1km2
Estimated area of contamination: 668 km2
(as of 31 July 2009)
Source: Landmine Monitor 2009
