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Day 1 of ceasefire: Nine people killed, 18 wounded in 4 explosions
While both the Taliban and the Afghan security forces observed the first day of the three-day Eid ceasefire Thursday, four explosions were reported across the country, claiming the lives of at least nine people and wounding 18 others.
No group has not yet claimed responsibility for any of the explosions.
Thursday also saw people around the country calling for an extension of the ceasefire, stating that people are tired of the war and want to live in peace.
No clashes were however reported on the first day of the ceasefire between Taliban and security forces.
But despite the ceasefire, two separate explosions caused by landmines in Kandahar killed seven people including children and women and injured three others. The government says that all the victims were civilians.
In Kunduz, two civilians were killed and 14 others were injured when another IED exploded.
Sources say that all the victims were civilians and most of them were children who were celebrating Eid.
Breshna Power Company also reported on Thursday that one of its employees was wounded when an IED exploded while the technician was working on an electrical pylon.
At the time of the explosion, Breshna employees were repairing the pylon which had been damaged in another explosion on Friday night in Kalakan district of Kabul.
The pylon carries electricity from Uzbekistan to Kabul and surrounding areas.
While areas remained calm across the country, Afghan National Army (ANA) officials said they will observe the three-day ceasefire but they are still ready to defend the country if needed.
One Special Forces soldier, Safiullah, said he has “been wounded five times on the battlefield and just wants peace”.
As families relaxed on this special day, many took to the outdoors to enjoy the calm.
One popular family retreat on Thursday was Qargha Lake – on the outskirts of Kabul city.
Here family and friends gathered to enjoy the day and the respite from violence – taking in the peaceful surroundings where their children could play safely – a rare event in the country.
The United States, the European Union, NATO and the United Nations have meanwhile all called on the Taliban to continue the ceasefire, but the group has said the ceasefire will not last – a not-so-promising message for the Afghan people.
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Nakamura canal project completed in Nangarhar
The construction of a water canal, planned by the late Japanese doctor and aid worker Tetsu Nakamura, has been completed in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province.
Nakamura was from Japan, but had honorary citizenship of Afghanistan. He was killed in 2019.
He worked in Nangarhar for many years, focusing mainly on building water canals.
Nakamura was working hard to complete his projects, but these were suspended following his death.
Later, the projects were resumed with the help of the government of Japan.
During his time in Nangarhar, Nakamura built several health centers and carried out more than 1,600 irrigation projects, canal constructions and provision of clean water.
His greatest work was the construction of a 25-kilometer long canal from the Kunar river, which irrigates hundreds of acres of land.
He also built a recreation park, dug wells, and established agricultural research farms.
“Dr. Nakamura made 9 weirs in Kama, Shewa and Behsud districts. Thousands of acres of land are irrigated and millions of people benefit from it. All the projects planned by Nakamura have been completed,” said Ajmal Stankzai, the representative of the Nakamura Foundation.
“Nakamura would behave with a laborer like a laborer. He would take stones with us. He used to tell us that the people of every country serve their country and you should also serve the ruined Afghanistan,” said Deen Mohammad, a resident of Koz Kanar district of Nangarhar.
In Kama district, the work of Nakamura projects is ongoing. One of the projects is the construction of a secon canal from the Kunar river.
“There was a huge water problem in Kama district. Fortunately, with Nakamura’s cooperation, many lands were irrigated,” said Bashir Ahmad Kamawal, a resident of Kama district of Nangarhar.
After Nakamura’s death, now an NGO called PMS is following in his footsteps and is working to build canals and dams.
Recently, the construction of a canal in Kot district of Nangarhar was completed and inaugurated. The canal is 5 kilometers long.
“Many projects are planned and our ministry has taken care of them… We thank them for feeling the pain of Afghans and helping our country,” said Abdul Latif Mansour, Acting Minister of Energy and Water.
Tetsu Nakamura was shot and killed by unknown men in 2019 when he was going to work from Jalalabad city. It is not yet known who was behind the assassination.
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Deminer killed in landmine explosion in Uruzgan
A deminer died in a landmine explosion in Afghanistan’s southern Uruzgan province on Tuesday, police said.
The incident happened around 10:00 a.m. in Khurma area of provincial capital Trink Kot, said Hazrat Bilal Uruzgani, the provincial police spokesman.
Another deminer was injured in the incident, he said
Uruzgani said that the incident happened during an operation to clear the area from mines.
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Acting health minister visits flood-stricken villages in Baghlan
Afghanistan’s acting minister of public health Dr Qalandar Ebad, along with other officials, visited a number of flood-hit villages in Baghlan province on Tuesday.
The officials assessed damage in the villages of Sai Hazara and Gharo in the Guzargah district.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, Ebad inspected “vulnerable areas affected by recent floods and, expressing sympathy with the local people, promised that the leadership of the Ministry of Public Health will spare no effort to provide health services to those in need.”
Ebad also expressed gratitude for the efforts of healthcare workers and their commitment to helping people in need.
He directed officials to make every effort “to improve the health status of patients affected by recent floods in the villages of Sai Hazara and Gharo, Baghlan province”.
Based on official figures, more than 300 people have died as a result of floods in Baghlan province and over 1,600 others have been injured.
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