Originally published on November 19, 2013

Seven children were killed in a mine explosion in the Paktika region of Afghanistan on Monday afternoon (November 18), according to a spokesman for the provincial governor. The children were playing in the Khairkut district when they accidentally triggered at mine that was planted at the road at around 3:00 p.m.

Officials blame insurgents for planting the mine, although no specific group was named.

The incident emphasizes what the United Nations says are hundreds of childrens who have been killed this year due to explosions or fighting between Afghan government forces and insurgents.

According to the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, 231 children were killed and 529 were injured in Afghanistan in the first six months of this year. Improvised explosive devices, including mines used by insurgent groups were cited as the leading cause. The second-leading cause of such casualties was fighting between insurgents and Afghan forces.

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