Renewed Hostilities Endanger Children in Afghanistan and Pakistan

KATHMANDU/NEW YORK, March 2, 2026 – UNICEF is deeply alarmed by reports of children being killed and injured amidst escalating hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The situation is particularly dire for those already vulnerable, including survivors of last year’s devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan.

Displacement and Increased Risks for Earthquake Survivors

Intense fighting has prompted families who survived the 2025 earthquake to evacuate displacement camps near the border. These camps, established to provide essential support to 17,000 survivors – roughly half of whom are children – offered shelter, food, healthcare, safe water, sanitation, child-friendly spaces, and emergency education. This renewed displacement exacerbates the suffering of families who have already experienced significant loss, exposing children to heightened risks of disease, malnutrition, violence, and exploitation.

Impact in Pakistan: School Closures and Disrupted Education

Escalating tensions are also impacting children and families in the border areas of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Authorities have reportedly closed 138 government schools as a precautionary measure following attacks, including a drone strike in Ghalanai. This disruption is affecting the education of thousands of children, and routine immunization programs are also being impacted. UNICEF expresses concern over these developments.

UNICEF’s Regional Response

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children, operating across more than 190 countries and territories. UNICEF’s Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) collaborates with Country Offices in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

In 2025, UNICEF reached 22.5 million crisis-affected people in South Asia with life-saving health, nutrition, WASH, education, and protection services. UNICEF South Asia Region Humanitarian Situation Report details these efforts.

Statement from UNICEF Regional Director

“While we are working to verify these reports in coordination with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and other UN partners, it is already clear that children are bearing a heavy toll,” stated Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia. UNICEF continues to monitor the situation closely and provide assistance where possible.