The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said that preliminary reports indicated a number of civilians, including women and children, have been killed and injured in Helmand’s violence.
“These civilians, including many children, must be protected from harm. The only way to do that is to stop the violence,” it said in a tweet.
The UN agency said that violence “undermines efforts for progress and building bridges between parties at the historic Afghanistan peace talks in Doha”.
UNAMA once again reiterated the “urgency” for ending violence. It has called warring parties to “focus on achieving a peaceful negotiated settlement” to the ongoing conflict.
“Civilians have borne the brunt of Afghanistan’s conflict. The number of civilians killed & 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,” it added.
While representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban hold peace talks in Doha, the sides continue to launch deadly attacks.
There is no exact detail of casualties resulted from clashes in Helmand; however, dozens of civilians, government forces and the insurgents feared to be dead or wounded and thousands have reportedly fled their homes.
Taliban fighters launched a series of attacks on the city of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province which are still ongoing.
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