UNAMA condemns indiscriminate killing in Afghan capital

31 May 2017

UNAMA condemns indiscriminate killing in Afghan capital

KABUL, 31 May 2017 - The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemns today’s indiscriminate suicide attack in downtown Kabul that killed at least 65 people and injured more than 300, mostly civilians. Casualty numbers are expected to rise.

UNAMA expresses its condolences to the loved ones of those killed in the attack and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.

The blast took place when a suicide attacker detonated a vehicle-borne explosive device in the Wazir Akhbar Khan area of the Afghan capital, part of the city typically crowded with civilians at that hour. In addition to the hundreds of people killed and injured, considerable damage to the immediate and surrounding area was caused, with some embassies being seriously affected.

“Beyond the immeasurable human suffering caused by today’s attack, the deliberate detonation of a massive truck bomb in a civilian area, particularly during the peaceful month of Ramadan, is morally reprehensible and an outrage,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.

“Today’s attack is an act of terrorism and is serious violation of humanitarian law,” said Yamamoto, who is also the head of UNAMA. “There can be no exceptions:  the use of explosive weapons in civilian-populated areas must stop.”

Kabul witnessed a higher number of civilian casualties than any other region in Afghanistan in 2016, according to UNAMA’s latest protection of civilians annual report.

UNAMA urges all parties to the conflict to strictly adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to take all feasible measures to protect civilians from harm.