*** Press Release *** 

Findings of the Landmine Monitor 2025 on Landmine Clearance and Victim Assistance…

11 December 2025 – Kabul, Afghanistan

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The annual Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor report is one of the most important publications prepared by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines – Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBL‑CMC). The purpose of this report is to collect information on casualties, use, victim assistance, clearance, prohibition, production of mines, and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty (MBT). The 27th Landmine Monitor Report 2025 was released on 1 December 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. The report includes casualty statistics from 1 January to 31 December 2024.

Afghanistan, as one of the 166 States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, has legal obligations to clear anti‑personnel mines and provide victim assistance. As an active member of the ICBL-CMC, ALSO publishes this report annually in Afghanistan to raise awareness, advocate for an Afghanistan free from the plague of landmines and highlight the challenges faced by landmine survivors.

Global Mine Casualties in 2024

  • 6,279 casualties in 52 countries, of which 1,945 killed and 4,325 injured.
  • 90% of casualties were civilians and 46% (1,701) were children.
  • 85% were men and boys, 15% women and girls.

 Afghanistan Mine Casualties in 2024

  • 624 civilian casualties (230 killed, 394 injured).
  • Afghanistan accounted for 12% of global mine casualties, ranking third after Myanmar and Syria. 84% male, 16% female. 52% children, 48% adults.
  • Since 1979, 39,489 casualties have been recorded, though the actual number is believed to be higher due to underreporting, especially during the conflicts. ALSO is not sure

  • 10 year casualty in Afghanistan by the Landmine Monitor

    if this number includes all security and military personnel or others that were directly involved in conflicts, as they often kept such reports confidential or reported less than actual casualties.

Victim Assistance

  • Afghanistan faces severe challenges in providing health services. Article 6.3 of the MBT requires States Parties to provide health care, rehabilitation, socio‑economic inclusion, psychosocial support, and peer counseling to mine victims. Afghanistan has legal obligation under the MBT to assist landmine victims that include landmine survivors, landmine affected families and communities that are still contaminated by landmines and other explosive ordnances.

Funding

  • In 2024, more than USD 1 billion was allocated globally for mine action, a 12% increase compared to 2023.
  • Victim assistance funding totaled USD 36.4 million, a 23% decrease, representing only 5% of mine action funding.
  • Germany was the largest donor for victim assistance.
  • Afghanistan received approximately USD 244 million in international mine action assistance between 2019–2023, ranking third after Iraq and Ukraine.
  • Support to Afghanistan has declined sharply since 2021, especially or victim assistance, which used to be receiving only about 5% of mine action funding.
  • ALSO notes that national mine clearance organizations reported reduced funding in 2024. ALSO, itself has witnessed a significant decline in victim assistance funding between 2021 and 2025.

By taking this opportunity, we would like to draw the attention of the authorities, the UN agencies and other relevant organizations to the following points:

Recommendations:

  • The Government of Afghanistan must fully implement the Mine Ban Treaty, the Convention on Cluster Munition, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
  • Allocate national budget resources for victim assistance, rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and socio‑economic inclusion.
  • Ensure participation of survivors and persons with disabilities in policy‑making and programmes as relevant.
  • International donors and UN agencies should maintain and strengthen support for mine victims and clearance efforts.

For more information, please contact us: WhatsApp/Phone: +93 792 822 770 or email: director@also.org.af

The full version of the Press Release is available in Dari and for Full Report follow this link.

A press conference by ALSO and partners in Kabul in 2021