Top UN officials condemned on Tuesday Pakistans overnight strike on a rehab centre that reportedly killed at least 400 people in Kabul and injured more than 250 others.
Crises in the region on both Afghanistans longest borders are undermining the countrys stability, a senior UN official warned the Security Council on Monday as concerns over Middle East crisis grow amid clashes with Pakistan and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Reports on Friday that major cities in Afghanistan have been bombed by the Pakistan military in a new escalation between the two countries have raised fears for civilians already struggling under the harsh rule of the Taliban authorities.
A reported overnight strike on the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Facility in Kabul, managed by the Ministry of Interior, killed more than 400 people, and injured at least 250, who were being treated for substance use disorders, said World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Since hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated at the end of last month, several hundred Afghan civilians including 104 children and 59 women have been killed or injured.
Tens of thousands, mostly in the south and southeast of the country, have been displaced by the fighting.
In Pakistan, many have also been forced to flee their homes, and schools have been closed.
WHO is working to verify last nights incident, Tedros said, but the intensifying conflict is placing additional strain on health systems and increasing risks to the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations.
The upsurge in hostilities between the Taliban and Islamabad has resulted inat least six health facilities reportedly being impactedin Afghanistan since late February, he said.
I urge all parties to de-escalate and prioritise peace and health. Peace is the best medicine.
Scene of total destruction
Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for UN human rights office,OHCHR,saidwitnesses had described a scene of total destruction at the site, with hundreds searching for their relatives.
Under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian objects are strictly protected, he said, emphasising that the laws of war clearly spell out that any attack must comply with the fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions.
International humanitarian law provides for specific and increased protections for medical facilities.
Call for reparations
The OHCHR spokesperson said the incident must be investigated promptly, independently and transparently with those responsible held to account in line with international standards.
Those results must be made public, he said.Victims and victims families are entitled to reparations.
UN human rights chiefVolker Trk reiterated his call on all parties to take effective measures to ensure the protection of civilians, in line with international law. He stressed the need for an immediate end to hostilities and for the free flow of humanitarian aid to those in need.
