
Coronavirus has interrupted the education of around 10 million children in Afghanistan, leaving many without alternative learning options, the charity Save the Children has estimated.
The charity’s assessment comes as the number of Covid-19 deaths surges in Kabul, even as violence rages on across the country.
Save the Children said in a statement that the inability of attending school in addition to the job losses for many Afghan families “means that their children are having to work in the streets or marry early in order to support their families. Children must be studying safely in their homes through the most appropriate means.”
Milan Dinic, Save the Children’s Afghanistan country director, said that while many countries seem to be bringing Covid-19 under control, the situation in Afghanistan is worsening.
“The indirect impacts of Covid-19 on the lives of millions of children in Afghanistan cannot be ignored,” Dinic said. “Ten million have had their education interrupted while they see their parents and neighbours, struggling to cope with job losses and soaring food prices. Support is urgently needed across all areas – from income support for families to alternative education options for children.”
The number of deaths from Covid-19 has risen by 24 from the previous day to stand at 1,062. In its latest update, the health ministry said the number of people who had tested positive for the virus had reached 34,740, an increase of 135 on the day before. There have been 21,454 recoveries.
The number of daily infections has been dropping in recent days but the war-ravaged country’s capital is seeing a surge in the number of deaths. Kabul reported 19 deaths today. Kabul has been the country’s worst affected area, with 370 deaths.
Updated
at 5.15am EDT