LASHKARGAH (SW) – Residents of Lashkargah province in Helmand say deadly fighting has entered fourth day leading to multiple civilian casualties, acute shortages of basic necessities and mounting anxiety.
In conversation with Salam Watandar, a number of residents of Lashkargah said that due to the intensity of the war, it was even not possible to bury the dead and transport the wounded to the hospital. They said they were in a very bad situation and the city faced with a human catastrophe.
Helmand’s representative at the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) Ghulam Wali said in this regard that civilian casualties were rising with each passing day. According to him, fierce fighting was taking place around the prison, the provincial administration building, the police headquarters and other localities.
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Meanwhile, the UN on Tuesday said Afghan civilians are bearing the brunt as fighting spread to cities. “Taliban ground offensive & ANA (Afghan National Army) airstrikes causing most harm. Deep concerns about indiscriminate shooting, & damage to/occupation of health facilities & civilian homes”, tweeted the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
“Parties must do more to protect civilians or impact will be catastrophic”, it warned.
“At least 10 civilians were killed, 85 wounded in #Lashkagah & at least 5 killed, 42 wounded in #Kandahar in last 3 days alone. Thousands displaced. Likely many more. Population living in fear”, tweeted UNAMA.
Meanwhile, Sami Sadat, commander of the 215th Maiwand Corps, said in an audio message to Lashkargah residents that people from areas where the Taliban were present had to leave their homes because they had to bomb houses where the Taliban had been relocated.
Although security officials are confident of ending the Lashkargah war, residents say the authorities are only confident and there has been little progress on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the charges that its fighters were hiding in people’s homes. According to him, the Taliban have surrounded the security forces and such statements cannot prevent the ‘defeat’ of the government.
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