42 Children Injured in Afghanistan School Explosion, UNICEF Calls for Investigation
UNICEF is urging action to keep schools safe and protect children from harm as at least 42 children aged 9-14 were injured in an explosion at a school in Shahrak-e-Mahdia, Kabul, Afghanistan.
UNICEF was “deeply distressed” by the injuries sustained by the children and said the incident was a “sharply reminder of the dangers faced by children when essential services and learning environments are threatened”, it said in a statement on 19 August.
The United Nations children’s agency urged that schools be kept free of violence, harm and fear, and that they remain a place for children to learn and grow, in accordance with international law.
UNICEF also called for a comprehensive investigation of the circumstances of the explosion. It called for the observance and protection of the safety, dignity and rights of children at all times.
The incident has brought back the issue of child safety in Afghanistan, where access to safe and uninterrupted education is vital for their growth and welfare.
The first priority for children who have been injured in the explosion is to receive the proper medical treatment and emotional support. Beyond the immediate response, UNICEF’s statement highlights the broader responsibility of authorities and communities to prevent violence from reaching schools.
Safe learning environments are crucial to the right to education and to children’s growth and development without exposure to preventable harm.
