Reacting to the deadly explosion inside a madrassa in the northern Samangan province, Amnesty International has said that it demonstrates the “utter failure of the Taliban de-facto authorities” in protecting the public. The attack left more than ten people dead and dozens wounded.
According to Taliban officials, ten students were killed and several others injured in the blast that targeted Al-Jihad Madrassa in Aybak city of Samangan on Wednesday afternoon, November 30.
Local sources, however, report a higher casualty toll. Video footage of the incident on social media also suggests the attack left huge casualties.
Amnesty International said it is yet another reminder to the world that the sufferings of Afghan people are far from over.
“The incident demonstrates the utter failure of the Taliban de-facto authorities to put in place any concrete measures for the protection of the public, especially of those who have been targeted largely in schools, mosques, training centers, and public places,” the organization said in a tweet in the same day.
Amnesty International added that there must be a determined effort to protect the Afghan people and bring those responsible to justice.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) also reacted to the attack, saying that it was “appalled” by learning the incident happened at the Madrassa.
“In Afghanistan, during the first half of this year, at least 288 children have either been killed or injured, including in attacks in schools and learning settings. The real figure is thought to be much higher,” UNICEF said about children casualties in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
It further urged all parties to Afghanistan conflicts to do anything to save children’s lives.
The US Special Representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West, the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan, Karen Decker, and the country’s special envoy for Afghan women, Rina Amiri, have also condemned the attack.
