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A6 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 30 april 2022
Powerful explosion at Kabul mosque kills at least 10 people

By KATHY GANNON to join his brother and
Associated Press cousin who were already
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) there, when he heard the
— A powerful explosion explosion. He rushed to the
ripped through a mosque scene.
in the Afghan capital of Ka- "I was so afraid and ran
bul on Friday, killing at least there," he said, adding
10 people and wounding that he had found both his
as many as 30, a Taliban brother and their cousin,
spokesman said. slightly injured and released
Hundreds of worshippers after treatment. The explo-
had gathered for prayers sion was so powerful, Javid
on the last Friday of the Mus- said the roof of the mosque
lim holy month of Ramdan collapsed.
and the Khalifa Aga Gul Wahid and Javid would
Jan Mosque was packed, only give their first names to
said local residents, fearing the AP, fearing for their own
the casualty toll could rise safety.
further. The United Nations con-
The Taliban-appointed in- demned the explosion,
terior ministry spokesman, describing it as "heinous"
Mohammad Nafi Takor, and "yet another painful
could not provide more blow to the people of Af-
details and Taliban secu- An Afghan blood-stained worshiper walks around the mosque where the explosion took place, in ghanistan who continue to
rity men cordoned off the Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 29, 2022. be exposed to unremitting
area. The source of the Associated Press insecurity and violence,"
explosion was not imme- according to Ramiz Alak-
diately known and no one the mosque shook from the rushed to the mosque right guards cordoned off the barov, the U.N.'s deputy
has claimed responsibility blast, the residents said, away, knowing his brother hospital, denying ac- special representative co-
for the blast. speaking on condition of was there. He recalled the cess to everyone but the ordinating humanitarian
Initially, at least 20 were re- anonymity, fearing for their scene of mayhem, the wounded. He finally found relief.
ported wounded but Kha- own safety. screams and shouts for his brother, wounded in the "It is unconscionable for
lid Zadran, spokesman for Ambulances raced to the help. He helped carry the arm and leg. civilians to be targeted in-
the Taliban-appointed Ka- site, driving up to the end of wounded to ambulances. The hospital, which treats discriminately as they go
bul police chief, later raised a narrow street in an east- "Everyone was crying and only the war-wounded, about their daily business,
the number to as many ern neighborhood of Ka- covered in blood," Wahid tweeted that its staff report- gathering for prayers, go-
as 30. The death toll re- bul to reach the mosque, said. "I was told my brother ed the facility has admitted ing to school or the market,
mained at 10, he said and which belongs to Afghani- had been hurt." at least "23 wounded" and or on their way to work," he
also tweeted that "security stan's majority Sunni Mus- The Associated Press spoke two who died shortly after said.
agencies are investigating lims. to Wahid outside the Ital- the explosion. The explosion was the lat-
the incident." Wahid, an Afghan in his 30s, ian-run EMERGENCY hos- Javid, who appeared to be est in a series of such blasts
The explosion was so loud said he was home when he pital, where he had gone in his late 20s, said he was amid relentless attacks
that the neighborhood of heard about the blast and to give blood, but Taliban on his way to the mosque across the country. q

Aid group reports surging numbers in child abuse in Pakistan

said she fears an increase ed daily in more than 80 "Absolutely, it is more is ac-
in "dark web" gangs trad- national and regional pub- tive here," she told The As-
ing in child pornography lications across Pakistan. sociated Press, speaking
and buying and selling chil- Roughly 80% of those cases over the phone from Islam-
dren are to blame for the result in charges, the report abad, the Pakistani capital.
increase, along with lock- said, noting that the vast During pandemic mea-
downs imposed during the majority of abuse cases sures such as lockdowns
coronavirus pandemic. rarely get reported. and school closures, child
The Sahil organization said According to the data, 54% abuse rose in many places,
the number of cases in- of the victims were girls and in part because with chil-
creased 30% in 2021, com- 46% were boys. The sexual dren being out of school,
pared to the year before. abuse of boys mostly took there was less supervision,
The group has been track- place between the ages of increasing their vulnerabil-
ing child sexual abuse and 6 and 16, girls were abused ity.
working on child protection at an even younger age. The majority of those com-
In this picture taken on May 4, 2017, Kausar Parveen comforts
her child who was allegedly raped by a mullah or religious cler- programs for more than 25 Munizae Bano, the organi- mitting the assaults were
ic, in Kehror Pakka, Pakistan. years. zation's executive director, family acquaintances or
Associated Press In its annual report entitled expressed surprise at the otherwise known to the
"Cruel Numbers," the group dramatic surge and while children, said the report.
By KATHY GANNON and day its data shows assaults says there were 3,852 cas- she blamed pandemic "Acquaintances are still the
MUNIR AHMED and sexual abuse of chil- es of child sexual abuse in lockdowns for some of the most involved in child sexu-
Associated Press dren have surged by nearly 2021 in Pakistan, including increase in child abuse, she al abuse, as well as service
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Paki- a third in the country last child marriages — or over said criminal activity perpe- providers, family members,
stani aid group dedicated year. 10 assaults per day. trated by gangs trading in strangers, and women
to child protection said Fri- The organization's director Sahil records cases report- children are on the rise. abettors," it noted.q