Tens of thousands flee their homes after Taliban offensive in Helmand, Afghanistan

Defence Redefined

Published on 14/10/2020 at 08:35

Some 35,000 people have fled their homes to escape the fierce fighting in Helmand in the last few days, with the United Nations estimating on Tuesday that some 200 people were killed or wounded in a large-scale Taliban offensive.

It is estimated that 5,000 families have fled their homes amid fighting between government forces and Islamist insurgents in the suburbs of Laskar Gah, the capital of Helmand province in the last few days. Hospitals in the region are now full, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

“Afghan forces have retreated in some areas to avoid casualties among security forces and civilians,” a German official told AFP. There has been power cut in Laskar Gah and roads have been bombed by the Taliban. Afghan Special Forces strike Islamist insurgent positions by land and air.

The Afghan Ministry of Defence refused to comment on the number of Taliban fighters involved in the attack.

The hostilities in Helmand are being documented despite ongoing peace talks between government delegations and the Islamist rebel movement, which began last month in Qatar. The two sides have not made significant progress in these talks so far.

Source: CNA

Also read: Afghan Security Forces on “Active Defence” – Talks with Taliban stalled