KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) strongly condemns the suicide attack which took place yesterday in front of the Indian consulate in Jalalabad, the capital of the eastern province of Nangarhar, killing nine civilians and injuring another 23.

Most of the victims were children who were visiting a nearby mosque for Islamic education; the others included worshipers, shopkeepers and area residents.

“The fact that this attack comes just days after the release of UNAMA’s latest report on civilian casualties, which highlights that the conflict has brought increased suffering and harm to Afghan civilians, is disappointing and disturbing,” said the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and acting head of UNAMA, Nicholas Haysom.

“As we approach the end of the holy month of Ramadan, I reiterate UNAMA’s call for all parties to the conflict to avoid actions which could harm civilians and to fully comply with their international legal obligations to protect civilians and prevent civilian casualties,” added Mr. Haysom.

According to the UN Mission’s latest Mid-Year Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Afghanistan, there was a 23 per cent rise in the number of civilian casualties over the first six months of 2013 compared to last year, reversing the decline observed in 2012. The report also noted that children were frequent victims of the violence, with 760 child casualties documented during the first six months of 2013 – 231 killed and 529 injured – up 30 per cent from last year.

UNAMA has repeatedly condemned attacks in areas populated or frequented by civilians and called for their cessation, as well as emphasizing that indiscriminate and deliberate targeting of civilians are violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes.

UNAMA extends its condolences to the families of all of those killed in the explosion and wishes a speedy recovery for the injured.

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Kabul, Afghanistan

All media contact details are online at: http://unama.unmissions.org

Download the UNAMA Press Statement in English | Dari | Pashto