Attacks on schools in Afghanistan tripled in 2018, compared to the year before, in part because militants targeted schools that were used as polling stations in the country’s October parliamentary elections, the United Nations children’s agency said Tuesday, May 28, 2019. (Rahmat Gul, File/Associated Press)KABUL, Afghanistan — Attacks on schools in Afghanistan tripled in 2018, compared to the year before, in part because militants targeted schools that were used as polling stations in the country’s October parliamentary elections, the United Nations children’s agency said Tuesday. According to UNICEF, the number of attacks on schools went from 68 in 2017 to 192 in 2018 — the first time attacks on schools had increased since 2015. Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group have targeted schools and education facilities across Afghanistan in the past. UNICEF also called for an end to all attacks on schools and urged all warring parties in Afghanistan to protect education during armed conflict.

Source: Washington Post May 28, 2019 06:58 UTC