DUSHANBE, January 26, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Two children were killed and another one was wounded on January 19 after a land mine exploded in the southern Khatlon province.

According to the Tajik Mine Action Center (TMAC), the tragedy took place in the village of Gushun, Mehvar jamoat in Khatlon’s Panj district.

Three children found a metallic object in abandoned canal and tried to open it.  The object that proved to be unexploded ordnance exploded.  As a result of the explosion, one of them, 12-year-old Shukrikhudo Amirbekov, died on the spot, while two others – 15-year-old Hazratsho Sharipov and 6-year-old Sayfullo Sharipov – sustained various wounds and were taken to the central district hospital in Panj.

Hazratsho Sharipov, who had multiple serious wounds, died in the hospital on January 20, the source said.  Sayfullo Sharipov sustained craniocerebral injury and wounds to his legs and right eye; he is currently undergoing medical treatment in the ophthalmology department at one of hospitals in Dushanbe.

According to Tajik Red Crescent Society (RCS) volunteer Sherali Shomahmadov, work on raising awareness of mines and unexploded ordnance (OXO) has been carried out among local residents and schoolchildren regularly.

Tajik Mine Action Center says 358 people have been killed and 449 others have been injured by antipersonnel mines and OXO explosions in Tajikistan.