By Azizullah Popal
Security officials in Kunduz reported that 11 children were killed or injured in a mortar explosion yesterday evening. Mahfozullah Akbari, spokesman for Spenghar 808 Zone, said that the incident happened in Chardara district in which four children were killed and seven others were injured. He added that the explosion happened when the children were playing in Qasab area of the district. Yesterday the State Minister for Natural Disaster Management Wais Barmak said that nearly 140 individuals suffered casualties on a monthly basis due to landmine explosions across the country. He said about 3,600 kms square land had been planted with landmines in the past and current conflicts. Over the past 27 years, about 2,500 kms square of land had been cleared of landmines, but in recent years landmines were again planted on more than 400 kms square of land. Deputy Foreign Minister Naseer Ahmad Andisha also called upon the international community to increase their aid to Afghanistan for demining operations.