EU envoy concerned at child situation in Afghanistan

KABUL on Wednesday expressed concern over the situation of Afghan children and called for protection of child rights.

Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin was speaking at a ceremony marking ‘Europe Day’ in Kabul, attended by students of a government high school and a private school.  

He said Afghanistan had many positive aspects including one in which Afghans helped each others in times of hardship and joys.

 However, Mellbin said challenges and issues existed in Afghanistan.  “Unfortunately children in Afghanistan are victims of violence, they are being abused and their situation is getting worse day by day and it is so sad.”

Also the head of the EU delegation in Kabul, Mellbin said children should be looked after, protected, allowed to play and kept happy.

Zenat, a student of 5th grade attending the gathering, said “there are less recreational areas in Kabul and I urge the government to give attention to children and pave the way for their happiness.”

A school principal, Hosai Andar thanked the EU office and said poor security situation was the main reason children were unable to acquire education.

She asked the government to consider happiness and future of children and seriously work towards creating a suitable environment for them to continue their education.

Child casualties have soared in Afghanistan this year as the Taliban stepped up attacks in urban areas, the United Nations said last month, branding the figures “appalling”.

Between January and March, 161 children were killed and 449 others injured — a 29 percent increase from a year earlier — the UN’s mission in Afghanistan said in a report.

The report said the conflict denied children access to healthcare and education and intimidated teachers in Afghanistan.

Conflict-related violence resulted in partial or complete closure of more than 369 schools in 2015, affecting over 139,000 students and 600 teachers. It noted explicit prohibitions were imposed to restrict girls’ education.

sns/ma