Nine children killed or maimed in Afghanistan every day: UNICEF.

An average of nine children have been killed or maimed every day in Afghanistan so far this year, according to a new report from the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, which describes the country as 'the world's most lethal warzone'.

The report, entitled 'Preserving Hope in Afghanistan: Protecting children in the world's most lethal conflict', accuses the parties to the fighting, which has dragged on for some 40 years, of failing in their duty to shield children from its consequences.

The dire predicament of the country as currently the world's worst killing field, is an acknowledgment of the nearly 6,500 child fatalities and almost 15,000 others injured between 2009 and 2018, it said.

The rate of child casualties has increased by some 11 per cent since 2018, which the study puts

down to factors such as a surge in suicide bomb attacks and ground engagements between pro

and anti-government forces.

'Even by Afghanistan's grim standards, 2019 has been particularly deadly for children', UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a statement. 'Children, their families and communities suffer the horrific consequences of conflict each and every day. Those same children are desperate to grow up, go to school, learn skills, and build a future for themselves. We can, and must, do so much more to reinforce their extraordinary courage and resilience.'

In the statement, UNICEF reminded all parties to the conflict to fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, which require them to protect children, end the targeting of schools and health centres and allow access to humanitarian assistance. Beyond avoiding conflict-related violence, children growing up in...