{"id":9542,"date":"2026-03-04T19:19:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T19:19:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theeaglenews.co.in\/?p=9542"},"modified":"2026-03-04T19:19:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T19:19:27","slug":"unicef-warns-children-paying-heavy-toll-as-afghanistan-pakistan-hostilities-escalate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theeaglenews.co.in\/?p=9542","title":{"rendered":"UNICEF Warns Children Paying \u201cHeavy Toll\u201d as Afghanistan\u2013Pakistan Hostilities Escalate"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

UNICEF Warns Children Paying \u201cHeavy Toll\u201d as Afghanistan\u2013Pakistan Hostilities Escalate.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

KATHMANDU\/NEW YORK<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

UNICEF has raised alarm over the impact of renewed cross-border hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, warning that children are among the most affected by the escalating violence.<\/p>\n

In a statement issued Monday, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia Sanjay Wijesekera said the agency is deeply concerned by reports that children have been killed and injured in the recent fighting. Verification efforts are ongoing in coordination with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and other UN partners.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we are working to verify these reports, it is already clear that children are bearing a heavy toll,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

Displacement Compounds Suffering in Afghanistan<\/h3>\n

The renewed violence comes as families in eastern Afghanistan are still recovering from last year\u2019s devastating earthquake. Following intense clashes near the border, families living in displacement camps have reportedly been asked to evacuate for safety reasons.<\/p>\n

The camps were originally established to support approximately 17,000 earthquake survivors\u2014about half of them children\u2014providing shelter, food, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, child-friendly spaces, and emergency education.<\/p>\n

For many families, the latest upheaval\u00a0 represents yet another traumatic disruption.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce again, children are being uprooted from what little stability they had regained,\u201d Wijesekera said, warning that renewed displacement exposes children to heightened risks of disease, malnutrition, violence, exploitation, and psychological distress.<\/p>\n

Schools Closed, Immunization Disrupted in Pakistan<\/h3>\n

Across the border in Pakistan, escalating tensions have also affected children and families, particularly in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.<\/p>\n

Authorities have reportedly closed 138 government schools as a precautionary measure amid recent attacks, including a reported drone strike in Ghalanai. The closures have disrupted access to education for thousands of children.<\/p>\n

UNICEF also warned that routine immunization services are being impacted, raising concerns about potential outbreaks of preventable diseases. Increased insecurity and displacement have heightened protection risks, including injury, loss of life, and exposure to unexploded ordnance in affected communities.<\/p>\n

Call for Restraint and Protection of Civilians<\/h3>\n

UNICEF called on all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint, prioritize the protection of civilians, and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren must be protected at all times,\u201d the statement emphasized.<\/p>\n

The agency reiterated that children should never be targets of violence and that essential services\u2014including education, healthcare, and protection systems\u2014must remain safeguarded even amid escalating hostilities.<\/p>\n

As tensions persist along the Afghanistan\u2013Pakistan border, humanitarian agencies continue to assess needs and monitor the situation, warning that further escalation could deepen the crisis for already vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UNICEF Warns Children Paying \u201cHeavy Toll\u201d as Afghanistan\u2013Pakistan Hostilities Escalate.\u00a0   KATHMANDU\/NEW YORK   UNICEF has raised alarm over the impact of renewed cross-border hostilities […]<\/p>\n

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