Seventeen humanitarian NGOs operating in Afghanistan are profoundly alarmed by hundreds of civilian casualties (1) in Kabul, Afghanistan, following heavy airstrikes on the capital on 16 March 2026. We urge international efforts to support de-escalation.
The airstrike comes following months of tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, including regular border clashes and multiple air strikes. Over 115,000 civilians are already reportedly displaced, including high numbers of children (2). The conflict has also led to border closures, disrupting the flow of imports and leading to a rise in the price of essential items (3).
The most recent airstrikes hit a drug dependency treatment hospital in Kabul. Hundreds of people are reported to have been killed, with the death toll expected to rise further as rescue missions are still underway (4). We urgently remind all parties to the conflict of their absolute obligations under international humanitarian law: civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times and must never be the object of attack.
We will continue our humanitarian operations on the ground, including providing assistance to displaced families, and emergency treatment for those injured in the most recent attack.
Signatories:
1. AFRANE (Amitié franco-afghane)
2. Action Against Hunger
3. Caritas Germany
4. DACAAR
5. DPA / DAARTT (Danish People’s Aid / Danish Assistance to Afghan Rehabilitation and Technical Training)
6. Danish Refugee Council
7. La Chaîne de l'Espoir
8. Hagar International in Afghanistan
9. Médecins du Monde
10. Mission East
11. Norwegian Refugee Council
12. Operation Mercy Afghanistan
13. Première Urgence Internationale
14. Solidarités International
15. Terre des Hommes Foundation 4
16. War Child UK
17. World Vision Afghanistan
Notes to editor:
- https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/17/world/video/pakistan-afghanistan-strikes-deaths-war-ldn-digvid
- https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-situation-update-1-humanitarian-impact-afghanistan-pakistan-military-escalation-5-march-2026
- https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-weekly-market-report-issue-287-week-2-march-20
- https://unama.unmissions.org/en/press-releases/unama-statement-airstrike-medical-facility-kabul
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
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NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
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Maisam Shafiey, advocacy and communication manager, Kabul, Afghanistan: Maisam.Shafiey@nrc.no, +93 706453029