STATEMENT
Afghan Women’s Network (AWN)
13th August 2015, Kabul, Afghanistan
Afghan Women’s Network (AWN) strongly condemns the recent deadly terrorist attacks, which resulted in killings and injuries of large number innocent civilians, especially women and children.
This happens exactly at the time when UNAMA’s 2015 Midyear Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict has announced 4,921 civilian casualties, which were documented in the first half of 2015. AWN is extremely saddened and shocked with the recent civilian and military casualties of Shah Shahid and Police Academy trainees. These attacks do not only result in people losing their lives, family members and belongings, it also put a big horror and fear in the hearts and minds of the citizens and creates the environment of instability.
We believe that there is an immediate need for a better planning and protection mechanisms by the Afghan National Security Forces in collaboration with people to avoid such threats and ensure safety and security of citizens.
AWN and it is members call on the Afghan government, international community, UN agencies and other civil society organizations for following below immediate steps:
1. National Unity Government must immediately assign an emergency response support mechanism to provide shelter, food and other needed support to the victims of Shah Shahid attack.
2. National Unity Government must meet and provide needed support to the families of Police Academy trainees, who lost their lives and are injured and hospitalized at the moment.
3. International Donors must provide an emergency support through their own channels or civil society organizations for victims of Shah Shahid attack.
4. Humanitarian and other international organizations having emergency funding and support mechanism, must immediately start providing shelter, food and othersupport to the victims of Shah Shahid attack.
5. Civil Society Organizations must visit the victims of Shah Shahid attack and ensure to carry lobby and advocacy on behalf of them with the government.
6. Afghan National Security Forces through media must speak to the people and assure the control over the attacks. This needs to change the mentality and concerns of local citizens, who are planning to even escape the country.
Increasing Civilian Casualties and Insecurity or Fear[1]
