Uruzgan residents: Unexploded ordnance still threaten lives

TIRINKOT (Pajhwok): Some residents of central Uruzgan province say they are concerned about the existence of landmines and unexploded war remnants that threaten their lives.

Many areas of the provincial capital and some districts, which had been the front lines of the conflict for about five years, have not yet been cleared of landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Khudai Rahim, an inhabitant of Kotwal area, 10 kilometres from the provincial capital, told Pajhwok Afghan News his 10-year-old grandson was wounded in an explosion caused by unexploded ordnance three days ago.

He said: "I sowed wheat seeds on my land, Nasibullah and my other grandsons collected stones from the land. Nasibullah found an iron similar to the stone. When he hit it on the ground, it exploded and seriously injured him."

He continued this area had been the front line of the war for more than three years and the area remained littered with many unexploded ordnance.

He recalled several demining teams had worked to clear the area, but it had not been completely demined so far.

Mullah Abdul Nafee, a resident of Dehjoz area of Tirinkot, said: "I have pulled out a number of landmines and other unexploded ordnance in our area.”

In Uruzgan, this problem is not limited to the provincial capital, but inhabitants of some districts have also been facing it.

Abdul Shukor Bashiryar, a resident of Qalaragh area of Chora district, said the existence of unexploded devices posed a huge threat to their lives.

He said families resettled in the war belt areas of the district were victims of these unexploded ordnance.

He asked the caretaker government and relevant organizations to demine such areas as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, provincial officials confirmed landmines and other explosive remnants of wars (ERWs) still threaten people’s lives in many areas.

Police headquarters spokesman Bilal Uruzgani told Pajhwok: “Some areas were used as a belt and were left with landmines and unexploded ordnance during the past conflict. However, demining work has been completed on these areas after the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan takeover.”

He assured that steps would be taken to demine all areas to save people’s lives.

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