In Afghanistan, at least 14 people were killed, and scores injured, in twin explosions in the city of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan. Children were among the victims. Nearly 6,000 Afghan civilians were killed or wounded in the first nine months of 2020, according to the United Nations. This latest deadly attack came as a major U.N. donor meeting was held in Geneva, where up to $12 billion in civilian aid over the next four years was pledged, though much of it is conditional on the success of ongoing peace talks. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres decried the ongoing violence in Afghanistan and called for an immediate ceasefire.

Secretary-General António Guterres: “The Afghan people have suffered for far too long. I urge the redoubling of efforts towards an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in order to save lives and prevent the further spread of COVID-19. This will create a conducive environment for the Afghanistan peace negotiations in Doha.”