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| Afghanistan |
| Kunduz Crisis Deepens As Battle Continues |
| 2016-10-08 |
| Fierce fighting between insurgents and security forces raged Friday as the Taliban continued its onslaught against Kunduz city. Heavy clashes broke out in a number of areas in Kunduz with government forces struggling to retake captured territory. Security officials said insurgents have planted landmines, which is slowing down the military operation. The Taliban has also taken to hiding out in residential homes, and using them as battle positions. Sources inside the city said residents that are still there are in a desperate situation as there is no electricity, little food and a severe shortage of clean water. Thousands of residents have however fled the city. But local officials said the security forces were able to retake control of Khwaja Mashd, Bandar-e-Kabul and Hawza-e Awal areas in Kunduz city on Thursday night. However, the Taliban still reportedly has control of Bandar-e-Khan Abad, Zakhail, Naseri and Chaman regions on the outskirts of the city. Sources said that nearly 200 Taliban militants and around 20 security force members have so far been killed and wounded in the Kunduz battle. Amnesty International on Thursday called on the Afghan government and the Taliban to facilitate swift and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief into Kunduz, where according to the organization, thousands of civilians are trapped in increasingly dire conditions. The organization said it has interviewed medical workers and civilians stuck in Kunduz amid fighting after the Taliban launched an assault on Monday. According to the organization, Kunduz residents have described grim scenes as food and water supplies have been exhausted and electricity cut. The city's civilian hospital has run out of medical supplies and sustained rocket and gunfire attacks on Wednesday. "Civilians in Kunduz are once again at a precipice, and time is running out. Unless all parties to the conflict permit a humanitarian corridor to allow vital aid in and people to flee, we could soon be looking at a devastating humanitarian crisis," said Champa Patel, South Asia Director at Amnesty International. Video report at the link |
| Posted by:badanov |