Death and Injury From Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance in Afghanistan

Abstract

Context Afghanistan is one of the countries most affected by injuries due to landmines and unexploded ordnance. Objective To understand the epidemiological patterns and risk factors for injury due to landmines and unexploded ordnance. Design and Setting Analysis of surveillance data on landmine and unexploded ordnance injuries in Afghanistan collected by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 390 health facilities in Afghanistan. Surveillance data were used to describe injury trends, injury types, demographics, and risk behaviors of those injured and explosive types related to landmine and unexploded ordnance incidents. Participants A total of 1636 individuals injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance, March 2001 through June 2002. Results Eighty-one percent of those injured were civilians, 91.6% were men and boys, and 45.9% were younger than 16 years. Children were more likely to be injured by unexploded ordnance (which includes grenades, bombs, mortar shells, and cluster munitions), whereas adults were injured mostly by landmines. The most common risk behaviors for children were playing and tending animals; for adults, these risk behaviors were military activity and activities of economic necessity (eg, farming, traveling). The case-fatality rate of 9.4% is probably underestimated because surveillance predominantly detects those who survive long enough to receive medical care. Conclusions Landmine risk education should focus on hazards due to unexploded ordnance for children and on landmine hazards for adults and should address agespecific risk behaviors. Expanding community-based and clinic-based reporting will improve the sensitivity and representativeness of surveillance.

Injuries and deaths due to victim-activated improvised explosive devices, landmines and other explosive remnants of war in Nepal

“…It was much higher than observed in previous studies from Chechnya (19% females among casualties),12 Afghanistan (8% females),16 17 Eritrea, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (both 10% females) 11 13. The proportion of females in our study was especially high among adult casualties (38%).…”

The Lasting Legacy of War: Epidemiology of Injuries from Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance in Afghanistan, 2002–2006

“…As observed in previous studies, 1 ' ' unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan is causing more injuries than landmines. Moreover, most injuries due to unexploded ordnance occur in children, and the proportion of injuries due to unexploded ordnance is increasing.…”

Landmine injuries at the Emergency Management Center in Erbil, Iraq

“…However, a higher percentage of injured children was reported by other studies ranging between 25% to 46%, which is probably attributed to including UXO injuries that are more common among children [1,8]. …”