AFGHANISTAN: The Silent Victims of a Forgotten War: warwounded_afghanistan12

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN -March 8, 2016: Payenda Khan gets treated for a mine injury to his face at the Emergency hospital Kabul on March 8, 2016. Payenda was farming at his home in Gardez when he dug up a mine, the injuries to his face were so severe that he needed a complete facial reconstruction. As of April, 2016 the Emergency hospital stated that in the first quarter their patient numbers were up more than 30% from last year. They stated that patients are coming from much further distances now especially since the bombing of the MSF hospital in Kunduz last year which cared for many in the region. Afghan civilians are at greater risk today than at any time since Taliban rule. According to UN statistics, in the first half of 2016 at least 1,600 people had died, and more than 3,500 people were injured, a 4 per cent increase in overall civilian causalities compared to the same period last year. The upsurge in violence has had devastating consequences for civilians, with suicide bombings and targeted attacks by the Taliban and other insurgents causing 70 percent of all civilian casualties.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN -March 8, 2016: Payenda Khan gets treated for a mine injury to his face at the Emergency hospital Kabul on March 8, 2016. Payenda was farming at his home in Gardez when he dug up a mine, the injuries to his face were so severe that he needed a complete facial reconstruction.

As of April, 2016 the Emergency hospital stated that in the first quarter their patient numbers were up more than 30% from last year. They stated that patients are coming from much further distances now especially since the bombing of the MSF hospital in Kunduz last year which cared for many in the region.

Afghan civilians are at greater risk today than at any time since Taliban rule. According to UN statistics, in the first half of 2016 at least 1,600 people had died, and more than 3,500 people were injured, a 4 per cent increase in overall civilian causalities compared to the same period last year. The upsurge in violence has had devastating consequences for civilians, with suicide bombings and targeted attacks by the Taliban and other insurgents causing 70 percent of all civilian casualties.