KABUL, calling the attacks as an abhorrent violation of international humanitarian law.
In a joint statement issued from the British Embassy in Kabul, the missions of Australia, Canada, EU, NATO, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, the UK and the US condemned the attacks.
“Targeting those who are trying to improve their lives and communities through the pursuit of education is an abhorrent violation of international humanitarian law,” the statement said.
“We underscore our concern for the number of civilian casualties reported by UNAMA, which also confirmed a total of 45 attacks against schools and education-related personnel between 1 January and 30 September 2020.”
More than half of these incidents were recorded in the third quarter of 2020 and the perpetrators of such attacks must be held to account and justice must be served, the missions said.
It said the young people of Afghanistan have tragically only ever known conflict. “Not only do they deserve to know peace, but they deserve to help shape it. The victims of these attacks and the people of Afghanistan deserve justice and peace. Their voices must be heard.”
The diplomatic missions reiterated their calls for an urgent reduction in violence. “This will ensure the best chance for a sustainable, inclusive peace to be delivered for the benefit of all Afghans.”
The missions said they stood with the Afghan youth, who must be protected from further suffering and students must not be targets.
Pr/ma
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