{"id":2884,"date":"2025-07-01T15:36:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T13:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawai.li\/fsd\/pays\/afghanistan\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T15:20:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T14:20:46","slug":"afghanistan","status":"publish","type":"country","link":"https:\/\/fsd.ch\/en\/countries\/afghanistan\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghanistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A deadly legacy of mines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cbutterfly mines,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some children have no option but to cross mined areas to reach school.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n Said Omar<\/span>\n

School Director in the Darwaz region<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Clear of landmines the mountainous province of Badakhshan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 located and destroyed landmines and unexploded ordnance, centimetre by centimetre, clearing over four million square metres of land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, FSD conducted risk education sessions to help local communities recognise dangerous items and adopt safe behaviours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FSD also supported survivors of accidents through tailored programmes, enabling them to take part in income-generating activities such as beekeeping or sewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \n \n<\/svg>\n \n Our impact in Afghanistan (2024) <\/span>\n\n
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\n \n 43 <\/div>\n
\n employees of FSD working in the country <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n +210,000 <\/div>\n
\n square metres cleared <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n 379 <\/div>\n
\n explosive devices neutralised <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Restoring safe livelihoods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 made it possible for agricultural and pastoral activities to resume and allowed 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, FSD\u2019s operations in Afghanistan were supported by the United States Department of State and private donors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Latest news from FSD<\/h2>\n \n View all \n \n \n<\/svg>\n <\/a>\n
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International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action\u00a0 – 4 April 2026<\/h3>\n

PDF of complete Joint Statement (March 2026) Invest in Peace; Invest in Mine Action  Geneva, 31 March 2026 The world…<\/p>\n

\n Landmines and explosive remnants<\/span>\n Humanitarian demining<\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n \n

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FSD’s Mine Action Programme in Ukraine<\/h3>\n

Complete Ukraine brochure (March 2026) \u2013 PDF Our ongoing operations \u2013 March 2026 As of March 2026, more than 450…<\/p>\n

\n Humanitarian demining<\/span>\n Ukraine<\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n \n

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Interview with Olivier Shu \u2013 La Ligne de c\u0153ur (RTS La Premi\u00e8re)<\/h3>\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Listen now \u00a9 Interview broadcast on RTS La Premi\u00e8re, in the programme La Ligne de c\u0153ur About Olivier A demining expert…<\/p>\n

\n Landmines and explosive remnants<\/span>\n Machines, drones and technology<\/span>\n Humanitarian demining<\/span>\n Ukraine<\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Receive monthly news, testimonies, and stories from the field.<\/h2>\n

Being informed is the first step to action.<\/p>\n \n \n