Seven killed, four wounded after artillery shell explosion in Paktika, Afghanistan

At least seven people, including five children, were killed and four others wounded after an unexploded artillery shell detonated in eastern Paktika Province, Afghanistan, Taliban authorities said on Tuesday 9 June.

According to a statement from Taliban police command in Paktika per Amu TV, the explosion occurred around 18:30 on Monday 8 June in the village of Dangar Lagad in Barmal district.

The statement said the shell, a remnant of past conflicts, exploded after a resident collecting scrap materials attempted to open it and repurpose the metal. Two adult men and five children were killed in the blast, while the four injured victims were transferred to a hospital for treatment.

Explosive remnants of war remain a threat

Decades of war in Afghanistan have left a legacy of unexploded ordnance and landmines across the country, with civilians and particularly children being among the most frequent victims.

According to the Taliban-run National Disaster Management Authority, at least 87 people were killed in explosions and other incidents involving landmines and unexploded ordnance across Afghanistan during the last year to date.

The agency said it recorded about 193 incidents related to unexploded explosives and war remnants during the year, leaving at least 333 people injured, with childen accounting for 67 percent of all casualties.