STORY: Afghan mine victims denounce war, call for peace
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 26, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 3, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:13
LOCATION: Kabul
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the rehabilitation center (ICRC) for the disabled, mine and war victims in Kabul
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): RUQIA, Mine victim
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): RUQIA, Mine victim
4. various of the rehabilitation center (ICRC) for the disabled, mine and war victims in Kabul
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): NAJMUDIN HILAL, Head of the ICRC hospital in Kabul
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Dari): NAJMUDIN HILAL, Head of the ICRC hospital in Kabul
7. various of the rehabilitation center (ICRC) for the disabled, mine and war victims in Kabul
8. SOUNDBITE 5 (Pashto): AMANULLAH, Mine victim

STORYLINE:

As the world marks the International Day of People with Disabilities on Tuesday to shed light on the rights of the war victims, injured Afghans have denounced the war and explosive devices as the enemy of human beings, calling for lasting peace in their war-battered country.
   
Afghanistan remains one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, with remnants of more than four decades of war and civil strife endangering lives every day.

Children are often the victims of these deadly explosives, which continue to maim and kill indiscriminately.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): RUQIA, Mine victim
"I hate mines and explosive objects. I feel dizzy whenever I hear the word 'mine.' 00:00:48:24-00:00:57:15) I was five and traveling from Ghor province to Kabul when our vehicle hit a landmine. The explosion severed my foot."

Despite her physical challenges, Ruqia dreams of a brighter future.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): RUQIA, Mine victim
"I want to become a doctor, so I can help other victims of landmines."

War-battered Afghanistan is among the most mine-contaminated countries.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): NAJMUDIN HILAL, Head of the ICRC hospital in Kabul
"About 15,000 to 16,000 people with disabilities register with us annually. Out of these, about 1,500 are war-related disabled people."
   
According to the head of the ICRC hospital in Kabul, approximately 80 percent of the war-related disabled people had been affected by mines and had lost a hand or foot in the mine blasts.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Dari): NAJMUDIN HILAL, Head of the ICRC hospital in Kabul
"We see 200 to 250 patients daily in Kabul alone, and we have registered more than 150,000 disabled individuals so far in Kabul. We have seven rehabilitation centers in the country, with more than 268,000 disabled persons being registered."
   
According to UNMAS, about 45,300 Afghan civilians have been recorded to have been killed or injured by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) since 1989.

The average monthly civilian casualties from explosive devices in Afghanistan currently stand at around 50 individuals.

ERW from armed clashes caused nearly 86 percent of the casualties recorded from January 2023 to August 2024.

In the same year, more than 89 percent of the ERW casualties were children.

SOUNDBITE 5 (Pashto): AMANULLAH, Mine victim
"War brings nothing but destruction. It destroys lives, leaves people disabled and ruins the country."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kabul.
(XHTV)