UN Security Council Condemns Kabul’s Deadly School Attack

The members of the Security Council condemned in “the strongest terms the atrocious and cowardly terrorist attack that took place in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 8 May 2021,” the UN said in a statement on Monday night.

The attack, which took place at Sayed-ul-Shuhada High School in the Dasht-e-Barchi area in Kabul’s District 13, resulted in the deaths of more than 60 people, many of whom were girls. More than 150 civilians were wounded.

“The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Afghanistan and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured,” the council said in a statement.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern about the continuing high level of violence and the security situation in Afghanistan, especially the number of civilian casualties, and stressed the importance of sustained efforts to end violence and protect civilians, it said.

“The Security Council reaffirms the right to education and its contribution to the achievement of peace and security and expresses grave concern about the significant number of attacks on schools and education facilities in Afghanistan in recent months, as well as the significant implications of such attacks on the safety of students and their ability to enjoy their right to education,” according to the statement.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.”

The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold “perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.”

“They urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of Afghanistan and all other relevant authorities in this regard,” the statement said.

The members of the Security Council reiterated that “any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.”