The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has condemned the deadly attack in Helmand province that killed at least 15 civilians and injured more than 40, the mission said in a statement on Saturday.

Facts in the incident have now become clear, the statement said. The detonation of a vehicle-borne explosive device took place in Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand, near a park when those who had gathered at a sports event were departing.

“An attack targeting civilians leaving a festive sports match can only be described as morally reprehensible; such attacks must immediately stop,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan. 

“At a time when Afghans are looking toward much-needed peace, we must not allow such attacks to deter our collective resolve to make progress on ending the conflict,” said Yamamoto, who is also head of UNAMA. “The United Nations stands with Afghans in solidarity and remains committed to an Afghan-led peace process that will end the war and enable Afghanistan to allocate more resources to protect all citizens from such atrocities.”

UNAMA maintains that there is no justification whatsoever for such attacks, which may amount to war crimes, and that those who have organized and enabled this attack must be brought to justice and held to account, the statement added. 

On behalf of the United Nations in Afghanistan, Yamamoto expressed his condolences to the loved ones of those killed in the attack and wished a full and speedy recovery to those injured, the statement said.