Afghan farmers and villagers help rid communities of landmines.

(Feb.02,2010): Farmers and villagers are taking part in United Nations-backed efforts to rid Afghanistan of landmines, which is also providing a much-needed boost to their incomes. An average of 40 people are injured or killed every month by mines in the Asian nation, down from 150 per month three years ago. But 40 is still high, and puts Afghanistan at the top of countries affected by mines and explosive remnants of war - ERW, or unexploded bombs, said Haider Reza, Programme Director of the Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan, supported by the UN and the Afghan Government.
Last year alone, more than 100 people were killed, and many more injured in incidents related to mines or ERW. In eight of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, people are being trained as de-miners to clear mines in their own communities. Over the past 20 years, 15,000 hazard areas across Afghanistan have been cleared, with 84 districts and 1,370 communities having been declared mine-free.