UNAMA condemns deadly roadside bombing in western Afghanistan

10 Jul 2013

UNAMA condemns deadly roadside bombing in western Afghanistan

KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) strongly condemns the killing by a roadside bomb of at least 18 civilians – including eight women, eight children and two men – in the Obeh district of the western province of Herat. The explosion also seriously wounded six children.

The incident took place on Tuesday, 9 July, following an armed clash between Afghan security forces and anti-government elements.

“I am deeply disturbed at the continued killing of Afghan civilians by improvised explosive devices,” said the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and acting head of UNAMA, Nicholas Haysom. “I reiterate the call made by UNAMA upon all parties to the conflict, issued earlier this week, to respect the sanctity of this holy month of Ramadan, and avoid actions which could harm civilians.”

UNAMA emphasizes that the use of such tactics, which fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants, is a violation 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.