The Kabul Tribune (KT) — OCHA Afghanistan reported that civilian casualties in Afghanistan have risen to 289 since late February amid ongoing military escalation between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In its latest situation update, the UN office said that between Feb. 26 and March 17, a total of 76 civilians were killed and 213 injured, including 59 women and 104 children, who together account for more than half of the victims.
According to the report, the conflict has entered its third week with no signs of de-escalation, as hostilities have intensified and expanded geographically. It said Pakistan has carried out airstrikes, artillery, mortar and drone attacks across at least 10 Afghan provinces, while Taliban forces have launched ground assaults on border areas and conducted drone strikes inside Pakistan.
The report added that recent strikes have increasingly affected urban areas. On March 14, airstrikes in Kabul killed four civilians and injured 14 others. Additional strikes on March 16 targeted multiple locations, including a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, where casualty figures are still being verified.
OCHA said displacement remains a major concern, with around 40,000 people confirmed displaced across 75 locations, while more than 318 shelters have been destroyed or severely damaged. Essential needs include shelter, water, healthcare and food assistance.
The report also highlighted growing protection concerns, noting that some displaced families in Kunar province have been instructed to return to their areas of origin, while damage to infrastructure has disrupted communications and humanitarian operations.
It further noted that border closures and ongoing insecurity have affected markets and supply chains, with prices of essential goods rising by 20 to 40 percent since December 2025.
