UNITED NATIONS: Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, is scheduled to visit Afghanistan on Wednesday, accompanied by Ilene Cohn, Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service.
During their visit, which extends until May 17, Lacroix and Cohn will focus on raising awareness about the dangers posed by explosive ordnance and developing effective strategies for clearing them from Afghan communities.
The UN emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that explosive ordnance poses a significant threat to the lives of Afghanistan’s people, with children accounting for 81 percent of the 821 reported casualties from January 2023 through March 2024.
The presence of explosive ordnance continues to claim civilian lives, especially in rural areas, due to the prolonged conflicts in Afghanistan.
