Landmine education programs have been one of the most effective along with mine clearance efforts in Afghanistan. With more than 800 sq km left to clear, of which 410 sq km are high priority, Afghanistan is the most heavily mined country in the world. Children are especially vulnerable to landmines because of their curiosity and love of play. According to the UN, 90% of the victims of landmines are children under the age of 18. In addition to killing and maiming, mines devastate the child’s development and future.

A large quantity of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines remain from the US-led war against terrorism in Afghanistan. This poses a huge threat to innocent children.

In response to the current threat the UN’s Mine Action Program for Afghanistan (MAPA) and other NGOs have stepped up efforts and are asking to incorporate landmine education into the curriculum in public schools. Apart from catering to children attending public schools, these programs have expanded to reach a large number of working children involved in scavenging and metal collection.

Child casualties due to landmines have considerably decreased since the first landmine education program in 1996. Landmine education programs educate children on what the devices look like and how to respond to them in case they come in contact with such devices. The following excerpt is an indication of the effectiveness of landmine education programs: