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<p><a href="/en/afganistan/kabul" class="glossify-link">KABUL</a> (UNAMA) on Wednesday said the violence unleashed in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Helmand?src=hashtag_click">southern Helmand</a> province this week forced thousands of civilians to leave their homes.</p>
<p>In a statement, the mission said initial reports suggest civilians have been killed and injured, including <a href="/en/women" class="glossify-link">women</a> and children.</p>
<p>“Violence only heaps further hardship and misery on ordinary <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghans?src=hashtag_click">Afghans</a> and undermines efforts for progress and building bridges between parties at the historic peace talks in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Doha?src=hashtag_click">Doha</a>.”</p>
<p>UNAMA said civilians bore the brunt of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hashtag_click">Afghanistan</a>’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.</p>
<p>The mission said civilians were routinely killed or injured in armed clashes with high casualties resulting from indirect weapons: mortars, rockets, grenades.</p>
<p>“These civilians, including many children, must be protected from harm. The only way to do that is to stop the violence.”</p>
<p>UNAMA reiterated the urgency to halt violence and to focus on achieving a peaceful negotiated settlement to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hashtag_click">Afghanistan</a> conflict.</p>
<p>pr/ma</p>
