Explosive Weapons Attacks on Afghanistan Schools Increase

Explosive weapons were used to attack about 40 schools in Afghanistan during the first six months of 2021, as Taliban forces took over key territories, the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) said in a report released today.  
Most of the 185 students and teachers killed or wounded in these attacks were girls and women. The report was released ahead of the second United Nations International Day to Protect Education from Attack, on September 9.

The 15-page report, The Impacts of Explosive Weapons on Education: A Case Study of Afghanistan, identified more than 200 such attacks on Afghan students, teachers, schools, and universities between 2018 and mid-2021. The attacks included airstrikes, shelling, and use of improvised explosive devices. Over 600 educators and students were reportedly injured or killed in these attacks, and more than 70 schools were reportedly damaged. Explosive weapons were used in an increasing proportion of all attacks on schools since 2018; other attacks included arson, raids, and small arms fire.