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تصویر بندانگشتی

UN Concerned About Spike In Civilian Casualties

Concerned over the targeting of Afghan civilians in the war, Toby Lanzer, Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said in Kabul that the warring sides are causing more civilian casualties now than ever in the past.

The UN official attended a blood donation campaign for those wounded in Kabul and Ghazni attacks at Emergency Hospital in Kabul on Saturday to commemorate World Humanitarian Day.

“On the one hand we are all working for peace and on the other hand we see the type of violence that we have just witnessed in Ghazni ravage people’s lives again. The theme for World Humanitarian Day is civilians are not a target but sadly, tragically in Afghanistan over and over again civilians are a target,” he said. “The parties to the conflict this year so far have caused more death among civilians than at any time since the United Nations has been recording figures. Just from January up to the end of June we had over 1,690 people in Afghanistan who were killed because of violence.”  

The UN official called on the Afghan government and Taliban to announce a ceasefire over the Eid.

“I believe and many of us believe that there are opportunities this year that Afghanistan hasn’t seen for some time and I very much hope that in the run up to Eid that we could have a repeat of the moment of magic that we had a few weeks ago,” Lanzer said. 

Ahmad Zia, a resident of Ghazni who sustained injuries in last week’s battle in the city, said the people are tired of war and they are desperately waiting for a lasting peace.

“We are not provided the required attention here. We are not receiving water when we need it,” Zia said.

This comes as Afghanistan witnessed deadly incidents and attacks by insurgents in the capital and other parts of the country in the past two weeks - where hundreds of people, government forces, lost their lives.

The government has started consultations with parties, former Jihadi leaders and civil society over whether to announce a ceasefire over Eid, officials have confirmed.

UN Concerned About Spike In Civilian Casualties

The UN humanitarian coordinator calls on government and Taliban to announce a ceasefire over  Eid.

تصویر بندانگشتی

Concerned over the targeting of Afghan civilians in the war, Toby Lanzer, Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said in Kabul that the warring sides are causing more civilian casualties now than ever in the past.

The UN official attended a blood donation campaign for those wounded in Kabul and Ghazni attacks at Emergency Hospital in Kabul on Saturday to commemorate World Humanitarian Day.

“On the one hand we are all working for peace and on the other hand we see the type of violence that we have just witnessed in Ghazni ravage people’s lives again. The theme for World Humanitarian Day is civilians are not a target but sadly, tragically in Afghanistan over and over again civilians are a target,” he said. “The parties to the conflict this year so far have caused more death among civilians than at any time since the United Nations has been recording figures. Just from January up to the end of June we had over 1,690 people in Afghanistan who were killed because of violence.”  

The UN official called on the Afghan government and Taliban to announce a ceasefire over the Eid.

“I believe and many of us believe that there are opportunities this year that Afghanistan hasn’t seen for some time and I very much hope that in the run up to Eid that we could have a repeat of the moment of magic that we had a few weeks ago,” Lanzer said. 

Ahmad Zia, a resident of Ghazni who sustained injuries in last week’s battle in the city, said the people are tired of war and they are desperately waiting for a lasting peace.

“We are not provided the required attention here. We are not receiving water when we need it,” Zia said.

This comes as Afghanistan witnessed deadly incidents and attacks by insurgents in the capital and other parts of the country in the past two weeks - where hundreds of people, government forces, lost their lives.

The government has started consultations with parties, former Jihadi leaders and civil society over whether to announce a ceasefire over Eid, officials have confirmed.

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