Almost every family here has lost some of its members in the war. Then, there is the omnipresent danger of land-mines which are buried almost everywhere, in the schools, in the houses, in the mosques, in the playgrounds and in the open places. Over the past two decades, almost one hundred thousand Afghans have lost their limbs as a result of these land-mines. Land-mines are a devilish tool, They are not meant to kill the people. They simply wound or maim the victims, who continue to suffer for the rest of their lives.
Children are the main victims.
As they go out to collect fire wood or to play, they suddenly step on to these hidden land-mines and the result is they either they are blinded of some of their limbs are blown off. The Red Cross has set up a center where artificial limbs are locally manufactured and fitted and at the same time, the UN is busy clearing the mines. As a result of these efforts, the number of accidents from land-mines has been reduced from 50 or 60 per day to five or six per week. Land-mines are not the only problem in Kabul. There are huge numbers of unexploded shells, rockets and grenades scattered almost every where in the city.