 will eventually result in injury and death.jpg "Iranian anti-personnel mine removed by Afghan villager from his field; self-help removal of mines (without safety equipment and training) will eventually result in injury and death.")
Iranian anti-personnel mine removed by Afghan villager from his field; self-help removal of mines (without safety equipment and training) will eventually result in injury and death.
Afghanistan is one of the most mined countries in the world, with HALO estimates of up to 640,000 mines laid since 1979.
During the periods of conflict described above millions of Afghans fled their homes and made their way to Pakistan and Iran in order to escape the conflict that was ravaging their country. With prolonged periods of conflict in which front lines were shifting and there was extensive mine-laying, residential areas and agricultural land soon became so dangerous that Afghan families felt that the safest place to be was outside Afghanistan.
Upwards of 6.2 million Afghans were reported as having left Afghanistan for Pakistan and Iran alone during the various phases of conflict. However, since the fall of the Taliban over 4.49 million refugees (UNHCR Figures: March 2002 – May 2010) have returned to their homes as the Karzai Government has attempted to bring political and economic stability to the country.