Kunar explosion leaves 2 children dead

ASADABAD (Pajhwok): Two children were killed and two others wounded in a mortar shell blast in eastern Kunar province, an official said on Saturday.

The incident took place late on Friday when the children were collecting firewood in Shingorak area of Shigal district, the Kunar police chief, Brig Gen Abdul Habib Syedkhel, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said two of the children were killed and two others wounded in the blast. The victims were aged 10 to 15 years, he added.

A resident of the area, Zahidullah, said the four children were brothers and the mortar shell exploded as they played with it.

According to a report recently released by United Nations, 500 children have been killed and 1,100 others wounded during the past year.

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