In Afghanistan, an estimated 1.5 million people live with significant disabilities, highlighting a humanitarian crisis rooted in decades of conflict, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said this week.
Children bear a disproportionately heavy burden—UNAMA noted that many young people who lost limbs or suffered traumatic injuries are still struggling to rebuild their lives amid ongoing threats from unexploded ordnance and landmines.
Mine Contamination: A Hidden Threat
Afghanistan remains one of the world's most mine-contaminated countries, with around 1,150 square kilometres still polluted by explosive remnants of war, according to Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority. In the past two weeks, separate explosions in Kandahar, Uruzgan and Balkh provinces killed seven people, including children, and injured nine others.
The Road Ahead
Demining efforts have expanded but remain uneven: clearance teams and local volunteers work under dangerous conditions, while funding and access constraints leave many areas off-limits, denying residents safe passage.
Humanitarian organisations are calling on the international community to boost support for survivor rehabilitation, inclusive education and community-led clearance programmes. For young global citizens and changemakers, raising awareness and advocating for sustained investment can help transform lives on the ground.
Why It Matters
This crisis underscores the urgent need for inclusive humanitarian assistance and sustained mine clearance. It highlights how communities, NGOs and policymakers must work together to safeguard civilian lives and foster recovery.
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1.5m Afghans live with disabilities, many victims of conflict: UN
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