In Afghanistan, a boy was blown up when he stepped on a landmine and it exploded. He was exposed to radiation all over his body, and the lower legs of both feet were amputated. The boy died a few minutes later after stepping on the landmine and being exposed to the explosion. The majority of child victims of landmines around the world are boys. Boys are most likely to come into contact with landmines and unexploded ordnance as they participate in outdoor activities such as herding livestock, gathering wood and food, and collecting scrap metal. In February 2019, the United Nations announced that casualties in Afghanistan from landmines and other explosive devices had more than tripled since 2012.5,554 mine casualties in 2019, about 80 percent civilian, with children accounting for 43 percent of civilian casualties.6 Government forces since 2014 and caused by the conflict between Taliban militants. Afghan militants have used roadside bombs and landmines to target government security forces, and deadly mines have caused civilian casualties.
About half of the victims exposed to landmines die from complications such as exposure injuries and infections. The other half, if they survive, become severely disabled. Almost one limb is lost. Three-quarters of amputations caused by landmines are below the knee. Another 20% are femoral amputations. Lower extremities account for about 95% of all losses. Cambodia has a particularly high rate of earthquake exposure, with about 1 in 234 people undergoing amputation surgery. In Angola, Africa, the number of limb amputees is about 20,000 or more.
Amputation is necessary because the muscles and bones of the limbs are destroyed and frustrated by landmines. Amputation is necessary because of the bacterial infection that accompanies the wound. Not only are limbs blown off by landmine explosions, but they are also amputated to prevent life-threatening infections. Landmines bring even more devastating burdens to the civilian population, on top of the exhaustion caused by war. Landmine survivors find it difficult to work in their communities, yet they receive little support from society. Landmine survivors are excluded from their homes and communities.
The number of amputees due to landmines is high among farmers in small-scale mountainous areas. According to the August 1996 report, in order of the number of amputees by number of landmines, Vietnam had about 60,000 amputees due to about 3.5 million landmines. Afghanistan had about 10 million landmines, resulting in about 35,000 amputations. Angola has about 15 million landmines and about 30,000 amputees. Cambodia has about 8 million landmines and about 25,000 amputees. The number of victims of amputation is about three times higher than in Europe and the United States. The number of A-bomb survivors does not include those who are missing. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.
