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November 25, 2020

Donors Pledge $12 Billion in Afghan Aid as 14 Killed in Bamiyan in Latest Act of Violence
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In Afghanistan, at least 14 people were killed, and scores injured, in
twin explosions in the city of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan. Children
were among the victims. Nearly 6,000 Afghan civilians were killed or
wounded in the first nine months of 2020, according to the United
Nations. This latest deadly attack came as a major U.N. donor meeting
was held in Geneva, where up to $12 billion in civilian aid over the
next four years was pledged, though much of it is conditional on the
success of ongoing peace talks. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres
decried the ongoing violence in Afghanistan and called for an immediate
ceasefire.

Secretary-General António Guterres: "The Afghan people have suffered for
far too long. I urge the redoubling of efforts towards an immediate,
unconditional ceasefire in order to save lives and prevent the further
spread of COVID-19. This will create a conducive environment for the
Afghanistan peace negotiations in Doha."



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