OMAR Mine ERW War Museum: A Testament to Afghan Resilience

The OMAR Mine ERW War Museum stands as a stark reminder of Afghanistan's long history of conflict and its devastating impact on the Afghan people [3]. Founded in 1994 by the Organization for Mine Clearance and Afghan Rehabilitation (OMAR), the museum began in a small room in Herat before moving to Kabul to increase mine awareness [3, 7]. It serves as both a memorial to victims and an educational center [3]. The museum displays a comprehensive collection of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), showcasing over 50 of the 53 types of landmines used in Afghanistan [3, 7, 11]. These deadly devices, remnants of decades of conflict, are displayed alongside unexploded ordnance, cluster bombs, and airdrop bombs, offering visitors a stark visual representation of the scale of the problem [3, 11]. The exhibits also include a variety of other military hardware from wars fought in Afghanistan, such as artillery, surface-to-air missiles, and a collection of Soviet military aircraft, providing a broader context to the conflicts that have plagued the country [3, 9]. Beyond the hardware, the museum tells the stories of the people affected by landmines and ERW through detailed narratives, photographs, and artifacts that illustrate the devastating impact of these weapons on civilian life, highlighting the physical and emotional toll they take on individuals, families, and communities [3]. The museum also showcases the tireless work of organizations dedicated to mine clearance and victim assistance, fostering a deeper understanding of the socio-economic consequences of these weapons and the ongoing efforts to mitigate their impact [3]. The museum suffered damage in a 2019 attack but has since been restored [3, 9]. It also educates school groups to detect and avoid unexploded ordnance including landmines and cluster bomblets from historic and ongoing Afghan wars [3].