As many as 68,000 children have been displaced in eastern Afghanistan following an escalation in armed clashes with Pakistan, Save the Children reports.
About 134,000 people have also been affected by disruptions to the organisation’s activities, including health, nutrition, child protection and education programmes, Save the Children said in a report published on Tuesday.
“The suspension of hundreds of classes and temporary learning spaces means more than 8,000 children supported by Save the Children and its partners are currently out of school,” the report said.
“Children are in urgent need of protection and psychosocial support and Save the Children has been forced to temporarily close some childcare centres.”
According to United Nations data cited in the report, at least 56 people have been martyred and more than 120 others injured since February 26, the majority of them women and children.
It added that at a time when one in three Afghans across the country needs food assistance, about 160,000 people have been affected by the suspension of food distributions after the World Food Programme paused its work in affected areas.
Arshad Malik, Asia regional director for Save the Children, called on all parties to de-escalate the situation and ensure children were protected at all times.
“It is vital that all parties fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, protect civilians, especially children, and cease hostilities for a definitive ceasefire now,” he said.
Tensions escalated after the Pakistani military regime violated Afghan airspace on February 21 and carried out attacks on civilian areas in eastern Nangarhar and southeastern Paktika provinces, which are still continuing.
In response, Afghan forces have also launched attacks on Pakistani military installations since February 26.
Officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) say heavy casualties have been inflicted on the Pakistani side during the clashes.
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