Afghanistan Times
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AT-KABUL: At least four employees of the Demining Agency For Afghanistan (DAFA) were killed and one other injured when militants attacked them on Wednesday in Nahr-e-Siraj district of the southern Helmand province, a provincial official said.
“The de-miners were attacked while they were conducting their normal mine clearance activities,” Omar Zwak, provincial spokesman told Afghanistan Times.
He said the assault was carried out by the Taliban insurgents at around 10: 35 am local time in Abbazhai village.
Meanwhile, The United Nation Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in a statement strongly condemned the attack on the Afghan de-miners, saying that de-miners are neutral, humanitarian workers who provide a service to communities in Afghanistan.
“The Mine Action Program of Afghanistan will not be deterred from this important work by such attacks that violate the most basic principles of humanity,” it added.
Helmand is the country’s most notorious province for poppy cultivation. The province is heavily affected by mines and unexploded ordnance.
Provincial records show that in 2015, landmines and unexploded ordnance claimed nearly 23 lives of civilians.
