Developments in Afghanistan
The security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated during the reporting period*, with children continuing to be the victims of the conflict between anti-Government elements (AGEs) including the Taleban, and national and international security forces, i.e. the US-led Coalition as well as NATO-led International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF). Weak governance and judicial system, as well as the inadequate coverage by the Afghan security forces in insurgency affected areas, have contributed to the lack of protection afforded to children affected by the conflict. Indiscriminate attacks and disproportionate use of force by the Taleban and other armed elements, including the use of car bombs, suicide attacks and improvised explosive devices, directed at national and international forces, have caused a high number of child deaths and injuries. Many of these attacks have taken place in densely populated areas or in the vicinity of popular gatherings. From January to July 2007, there have been at least 950 civilian deaths due to insurgency related violence, out of which UNAMA has documented at least 49 deaths and 19 injuries to children.
Children have also become casualties in military operations against the insurgency, including air strikes by international military forces. Air strikes have in some cases unintentionally missed their target and fallen on civilian areas, killing children. On 9 March 2007, nine civilians in Kapisa Province, including four children, were killed in a Coalition military air strike. On 8 May 2007, 21 civilians, including women and children, were reportedly killed in Helmand province as a result of air-strikes that supported ISAF operations. ISAF has acknowledged at the Protection of Civilians Workshop in Kabul in August 2007 that mistakes have been made during operations, and informed the UN that they continue to adjust operations to minimise civilian casualties.
Unexploded ordnances (UXOs) have also caused deaths and injuries of children during the reporting period*. Between August 2006 and July 2007, 295 mine and UXO accidents involving children, which accounts for over 60 percent of the total number of accidents, resulted in at least 59 deaths. The UN remains disturbed by reports of children being used to perpetrate attacks and, in some cases, as human shields by the Taleban and other insurgents. This is a relatively new phenomenon, and the UN has documented several high profile cases of children involved in attacks.
Attacks against schools by the Taleban and other AGEs continued, and security incidents affecting schools and threats against students and teachers documented by the UN remain a serious concern. Between August 2006 and July 2007, there were at least 133 documented incidents of school attacks. At least 100 attacks in the south were reported in the first six months of 2007. According to the Ministry of Education, 384 of the total 721 schools in the southern provinces of Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan and Zabul are currently closed.
Press Releases by the Special Representative
Parties in Afghanistan
Taliban Forces
This party has also been responsible for the killing and maiming of children and attacks against schools in the reporting period.
* Information based on the 2007 report of the Secretary General to the Security Council (A/62/609-S/2007/757) issued on 21 December 2007