United Nations statement of condolence to the people of Afghanistan

24 Jul 2016

United Nations statement of condolence to the people of Afghanistan

KABUL - On the occasion of the national day of mourning for those killed in yesterday’s attack in Kabul, the United Nations in Afghanistan expresses its deepest condolences and solidarity with the people of Afghanistan. The United Nations joins in mourning the loss of so many and wishes a quick recovery for those injured.

Yesterday’s attack on a gathering of Afghans exercising their right to peaceful assembly was the deadliest single incident recorded by the UN in Afghanistan since 2001. The attack killed at least 73 civilians and injured 291 others. The majority of the victims were reportedly of Hazara ethnicity.

The lines of Afghan men and women who queued to donate blood for their injured compatriots was a poignant indicator of the Afghan peoples' resilience and solidarity in the face of terrible violence. The display of unity shows the Afghan peoples’ determination to challenge extremism, to remain united and strive for a stable and prosperous future.

The United Nations family stands together with every Afghan, of every ethnicity, united in grief, outrage and condemnation of yesterday’s attack.