UN Condemns Attacks on Cricket Match

The United Nations has condemned the attack in eastern Afghanistan that killed at least eight people and injured at least 55 at a cricket stadium on Friday 18 May 2018.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres “condemns yesterday’s attack”, his Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement issued on Saturday, which also stated “attacks targeting civilians are grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and can never be justified.”
“The United Nations maintains that all parties to the conflict must at all times uphold their obligations to protect civilians from harm”, Mr Haq added.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said that four explosives were detonated, targeting those gathered, after evening prayers, to watch a local match at the venue in Jalalabad.
“I am outraged by this attack that used four bombs carefully calculated to kill and maim civilians watching a cricket match,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan. “This cold and brutal act can have no justification whatsoever; those responsible must be held accountable.”
No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, and the Taliban militant group has denied any involvement