OCHA: Pakistan-Taliban Clashes Increase Humanitarian Needs in Eastern Afghanistan
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that the recent escalation of clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban administration has increased humanitarian needs in eastern Afghanistan. According to a new report released on Wednesday, April 27, at least seven people were killed and 79 others injured in a recent attack on Kunar province.
OCHA states that recent attacks primarily targeted civilian areas and facilities. Between April 19 and 21, several mortar shells were fired into Afghanistan, resulting in the destruction of a school, a health center, and a telecommunications site in Dangam district of Kunar province.
Additionally, in shelling two days ago on Asadabad city, the provincial capital of Kunar, Syed Jamaluddin Afghan University was targeted. OCHA emphasized that in recent weeks, most damage has been inflicted on civilian infrastructure, especially health centers and schools in eastern regions.
According to the report, a total of 19 health centers have either been completely closed, had their operations suspended, or are functioning at reduced capacity; this situation has affected access to health services for approximately 78,000 people. This comes despite repeated calls from aid organizations for the protection of civilian facilities during ongoing conflicts.
OCHA added that access to several districts, including Nari and Sarkani in Kunar, as well as Babrak, Goshta, and Lalpor in Nangarhar, remains limited due to security concerns caused by ongoing shelling and the presence of unexploded ordnance.
The report notes that although the intensity of clashes had decreased compared to March and Taliban and Pakistani delegations had met in Urumqi, China, from April 1 to 7 to discuss a “comprehensive plan” to resolve issues, recent attacks demonstrate that these tensions continue to cast a shadow over civilian lives, highlighting an urgent need for effective measures to protect non-combatants.
