The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) office has announced that victims of several decades of armed conflict in Afghanistan continue to suffer from profound physical, psychological, social and economic consequences, while many of them still lack adequate access to justice and support.
The organisation reported on Tuesday, September 1, that the report primarily examined the period of conflict from 2001 until the Taliban takeover on August 15, 2021.
According to the report, 95 percent of those interviewed said they had experienced emotional or psychological harm as a result of the conflicts, including depression, anxiety, and sudden re-experiencing of trauma-related memories.
Meanwhile, 58 percent of respondents said they had suffered physical injuries during the armed conflicts, and many of them continue to live with chronic pain or disabilities resulting from their injuries.
The victims said they could not afford the costs of medical treatment, rebuilding their destroyed homes and meeting the needs of their families.
Women widowed as a result of the conflict also face economic difficulties, while existing restrictions have made it difficult for them to access employment.
UNAMA said that more than half of those interviewed had taken no action to seek justice, compensation, or other forms of remedy because they feared that their complaints would not be taken seriously or that they could face retaliation.
