The child protection organization Save the Children says that tens of thousands of Afghan children have been displaced from their homes and areas due to Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan and armed clashes between the two sides.
In a new report, the organization said the number of children displaced in eastern Afghanistan because of attacks by the Pakistani military regime and escalating clashes along the Durand Line has reached 68,000.
The report also states that another 134,000 children have been deprived of the organization’s emergency assistance.
Irshad Malik, regional director of Save the Children for Asia, said:
“Tens of thousands of children have lost what provided them stability and security. They have been displaced from their homes, lost access to education and health services, and their safety is at risk. In addition, some children who need assistance cannot receive it because of the conflict, as war has a devastating impact on children and their families. The only way to protect children is to stop the violence.”
Malik also said that 8,000 children who had been attending school with the support of the organization have now been deprived of education due to the ongoing conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Referring to the provision of healthcare services for more than 6,000 children, he called on both sides to agree to a ceasefire.
He added:
“We call on all parties to normalize the situation and ensure that children are protected under all circumstances. According to international law, it is very important for all sides to fulfill their responsibilities and ensure the safety of civilians, especially children. They must stop the violence and reach a ceasefire.”
According to the report, since February 26, Pakistani military bombardments have killed 56 civilians and injured 120 others, most of whom are women and children.
Meanwhile, human rights activists say that targeting women and children in war violates international law and humanitarian principles.
Human rights activist Abdul Razzaq Adil said:
“The current situation of children in eastern Afghanistan is not simply displacement but the destruction of a nation’s human foundation. Continued conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan along the Durand Line is raising a generation filled with anger, constant anxiety, and lacking educational and social skills. A child who today is deprived of vaccines, adequate food, and school will tomorrow enter society with a weak immune system and psychological distress. If the international community and the parties to the conflict ignore the calls of humanitarian organizations, these children will not only become victims of war but will also be deprived of every opportunity.”
Along with international organizations, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has also confirmed that dozens of civilians have been killed or injured in Pakistani bombardments. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has likewise confirmed civilian casualties caused by the attacks.
In a recent incident, the night before last a civilian house in Kot village of Dand Patan district in Paktia Province was struck by heavy shelling from Pakistani forces, killing three civilians and injuring three others.
