4 Afghan children killed in unexploded ordnance blast

Baku, March 19, AZERTAC

Four children have been killed by an unexploded ordnance blast in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar, the country's Ministry of Interior said on Saturday, according to Xinhua.

The incident occurred in Shah Wali Kot district when an explosive remnant of war (ERW) was detonated by accident when the ill-fated children were playing in a remote village, the ministry said in a statement.

The term ERW refers to unexploded ordnance (UXO) and abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO) by Afghan officials.

Landmines, anti-personnel mines as well as ERWs left behind from wars kill or maim about 120 people every month in the post-conflict country, according to official sources.

On Friday, two civilians were killed and three others wounded when an ERW exploded in eastern Paktia province.