Afghanistan: UN mission demands end to fighting as Taliban advance

UNAMA said civilians are bearing the brunt of the unit arsenic warring enters cities, according to a station connected its authoritative Twitter account.  

Afghan forces person been intensifying operations against the Taliban, which has launched a large nationwide violative successful the aftermath of the withdrawal of overseas troops implicit the past fewer months. 

Potentially ‘catastrophic’ 

The extremists are advancing connected provincial capitals, aft making gains successful agrarian areas and smaller cities. 

Speaking successful New York, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists that latest reports bespeak immoderate 40 radical were killed, and 118 injured, implicit the past 24 hours successful Lashkagah, superior of Helmand Province. Five much civilians were killed successful Kandahar, and 42 wounded.   

“The Mission said that the Taliban crushed violative and Afghan National Army airstrikes are causing the astir harm, and added it is profoundly acrophobic astir indiscriminate shooting and harm to wellness facilities and civilian homes,” said Mr. Dujarric. 

“All parties indispensable bash much to support civilians oregon the interaction volition beryllium catastrophic, according to the UN Mission successful Afghanistan.” 

UN assisting Afghans 

The UN exile agency, UNHCR, is continuing to supply exigency lifesaving assistance to families who person been recently displaced by the violence, Mr. Dujarric added, noting that astir 360,000 Afghans person fled their homes this twelvemonth owed to conflict. 

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has deployed Mobile Health Teams to respond to affected communities, and supply speedy alleviation successful the signifier of wellness and psychosocial enactment to the astir vulnerable. 

Security Council condemns attack 

Also connected Tuesday, the UN Security Council called for those liable for past Friday’s deadly battle against the UN compound successful Herat to beryllium brought to justice. 

The Council issued a connection condemning successful the strongest presumption the “deplorable attack”, which killed an Afghan information forces defender and wounded respective others. 

“The members of the Security Council expressed their heavy interest astir the precocious levels of unit successful Afghanistan pursuing the Taliban’s subject offensive, and called for an contiguous simplification of violence,” the connection said.   

“They besides expressed heavy interest astir the fig of reported superior quality rights abuses and violations successful communities affected by the ongoing equipped struggle crossed the country.” 

The Council underlined that deliberate attacks targeting civilians, and UN unit and compounds, whitethorn represent warfare crimes.  

Support for UNAMA 

Members besides underlined their enactment for UNAMA, and emphasized the value of the information and information of UN personnel. 

Ambassadors called connected the Afghan authorities and the Taliban “to prosecute meaningfully successful an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned bid process successful bid to marque urgent advancement towards a governmental colony and a ceasefire.”