Kabul: (Raja Furqan Ahmed) United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Thursday calls for an end to violence in the country following five days of heavy clashes in the southern province of Helmand. In a series of tweets, UNAMA said initial reports suggest civilians have been killed and wounded, including women and children. “Violence only heaps further hardship and misery on ordinary Afghans and undermines efforts for progress and building bridges between parties at the historic Afghanistan peace talks in Doha.” “Civilians have borne the brunt of Afghanistan’s conflict. The number of civilians killed and injured – a key indicator of the intensity of violence – has so far been lower in 2020, but in recent weeks a worrying reversal seems to be emerging,” UNAMA stated. “These civilians, including many children, must be protected from harm. The only way to do that is to stop the violence” UNAMA added. “UNAMA reiterates the urgency to halt violence and to focus on achieving a peaceful negotiated settlement to the Afghanistan conflict,” they stated.
Meanwhile, clashes broke out between Afghan forces and Taliban group on Saturday night across various areas in Helmand province, which has since forced tens of thousands of residents to flee their homes.
