Violent incidents block Afghan kids' access to education, healthcare- UN Report


Violent incidents such as death threats, assaults on health care personnel and forced school closures by warring parties in Afghanistan are severely limiting children's access to healthcare and education.

That's according to a new report by the UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) released on Monday.

Covering a three-year period starting January 2013, the report documented 257 incidents in 2015 alone, an increase of 182 per cent compared to 2014.

Other incidents documented include letters prohibiting school attendance, particularly against girls; extortion and other harmful acts such as detonating explosive devices near schools and clinics.

Nicholas Haysom, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, called the findings "deeply troubling" and urged all parties to take measures to protect education and health services in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, a UNAMA report found that 600 civilians were killed and 1,343 were wounded in the first three months of 2016.


Children made up one third of civilian casualties, the report adds.


SOURCE: UN Radio