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Afghan children increasingly struggle to get access to health care, education: UN report

Xinhua, April 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Conflict-related violence in Afghanistan has harmed health and education personnel and limited children's access to essential health care and eduction services, the UN warned in a report released Monday.

The new report, which covers a three-year period starting in 2013, looks at the consequences of conflict-related violence, threats and intimidation on access to health care and education, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a news briefing here.

The report, jointly produced by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), showed in 2015 alone, there were 125 incidents affecting access to healthcare and some 132 affecting access to education.

Moreover, conflict-related violence resulted in the partial or complete closure of more than 369 schools in 2015, affecting more than 139,000 students and 600 teachers.

"The report's findings are deeply troubling. It is simply unacceptable for teachers, doctors and nurses to be subjected to violence or threats, and for schools and medical facilities to be misused or attacked," said Nicholas Haysom, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan.

"All parties must take measures to protect education and health services in Afghanistan."

In 2015, the UNAMA and UNICEF documented 125 incidents affecting access to healthcare, compared to 59 in 2014, including 20 health workers killed, 43 injured and 66 abducted.

About 132 conflict-related incidents affecting access to education and education-related personnel were also documented, including 11 education personnel killed, 15 injured and 49 abducted. This was a sharp increase over 2014 figures.

Of the 257 incidents documented in 2015, the majority comprised of threats and intimidation, an increase of 182 percent compared to 2014.

Acts of threats and intimidation included: death threats; assaults of health and education personnel; forced closures of schools; letters prohibiting school attendance, particularly against girls; extortion and other harmful acts.

UNAMA and UNICEF also documented incidents of improvised explosive devices detonated near schools and clinics, killing and injuring healthcare and education personnel.

The report highlighted the particular vulnerabilities faced by girls, noting attacks, threats and explicit prohibitions imposed to restrict girls' education.

"Conflict-related violence not only puts Afghan children at risk of harm, but also limits their fundamental rights to education and healthcare," said Danielle Bell, UNAMA human rights director.

"Efforts must be redoubled to enable children -- particularly girls -- free and safe access to medical services and education."

The report addressed a number of recommendations to all parties to the conflict so as to enable children's unimpeded access to education and healthcare. Endit