UNICEF has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of five children and the serious injuries sustained by over a dozen others after an unexploded mortar shell detonated in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Saturday. 

According to reports, the children discovered the unexploded ordnance in a nearby field, mistook it for a toy, and brought it back to their village, where it eventually exploded.

UNICEF offers its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and the wider community grieving this heartbreaking tragedy. No child should ever become a casualty of landmines or explosive remnants of war. UNICEF strongly condemns the presence of such deadly devices, which continue to threaten the safety of children and their communities. Children, due to their natural curiosity and lack of awareness, are especially at risk, often unable to recognize the danger posed by such objects and suffering the most severe consequences when accidents occur. 

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Since January 2025, in partnership with the provincial government, UNICEF has provided explosive ordnance risk education to 9,500 children across schools and communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These sessions aim to educate children, caregivers, and teachers on how to identify and avoid landmines and unexploded ordnance.

UNICEF urges the Government of Pakistan and its partners to expand and strengthen the delivery of this crucial risk education so that all children can benefit from this life-saving knowledge.

There is an urgent need for coordinated and accelerated efforts to clear all landmines and unexploded devices, support victims in their recovery, ensure children's protection, and fulfill every child’s right to grow up in a safe and secure environment.