Afghanistan
A deadly legacy of mines
Afghanistan is one of the countries with the highest number of accidents caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war each year. Since 1989, more than 45,000 people have been killed or injured in accidental explosions. Among the most feared threats are “butterfly mines,” small green plastic anti-personnel mines widely scattered across the country. Light and brightly coloured, they are often mistaken for toys by children, who make up the majority of the victims.
Some children have no option but to cross mined areas to reach school.
School Director in the Darwaz region
Clear of landmines the mountainous province of Badakhshan
Isolated from the rest of Afghanistan by a mountain range, this north-eastern region is difficult to access and receives little international aid. FSD deminers locate and destroy landmines and unexploded ordnance, centimetre by centimetre, they have already cleared over four million square metres of land.
At the same time, FSD runs risk education sessions to help local communities recognise dangerous items and adopt safe behaviours.
FSD also supports survivors of accidents through tailored programmes, enabling them to take part in income-generating activities such as beekeeping or sewing.
Restoring safe livelihoods
In a country where farming and livestock are essential for survival, nomadic herders are among those most at risk from landmines and explosive remnants of war. By clearing land in Badakhshan, FSD makes it possible for agricultural and pastoral activities to resume and allows children to walk to school without risking their lives. Each cleared area represents a step towards stability: families return to their fields, herds return to pastures, and villages come back to life.
In 2024, FSD’s operations in Afghanistan were supported by the US Department of State as well as private donors.
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