Parks in Kabul Filling with Afghans Running Away from Fighting
2021-08-12
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1As the U.S. military leaves Afghanistan, Taliban fighters are trying to take over parts of the country.
2The Taliban members are fighting against Afghan government soldiers in the north, and many people are running away from the violence.
3The people trying to escape the fighting are running to the capital city of Kabul, where they live in open green spaces known as parks, and on streets with little food or water.
4About 17,000 people left their homes in the north and came to Kabul in the last two weeks, said a spokesman for the Afghan government.
5Michelle Bachelet is the United Nations' human rights chief.
6She said close to 200 civilians were killed and over 1,000 were injured since only Monday during fighting in the cities of Lashkar Gah, Kandahar, Herat and Kunduz.
7In reality, she said, the numbers may be much higher.
8Bachelet said people told the U.N. stories of civilians being lined up and killed, attacks against Afghan government officials and their families, homes and schools being destroyed and mines and explosive devices being placed on the ground.
9With the exit of the soldiers who worked to keep Afghanistan safe from the Taliban for 20 years, Bachelet said the U.N. is worried progress in human rights will be lost.
10One teenager, Nasir Ahmed, said he saw Taliban fighters hurting a man who had a photo of himself with the Afghan flag on his phone.
11He said he also saw fighters hurting women whose head coverings were not correct.
12He said he left his village because the fighting was too close.
13He is worried about his future.
14"I missed the last year of school because of COVID-19 and this year because of war. I don't see any future for myself," he said.
15One woman said she has been in a park in the northern part of Kabul for three days.
16The government offered no help.
17She has been getting food from other people.
18She left her village after some of the men in her family were killed while fighting the Taliban.
19Other men in her family were killed later because they were related to those fighting against the Taliban.
20"The Taliban have no mercy," she said.
21Some people in the parks are worried that their government will not be able to defeat the Taliban.
22Fawzia Karimi left her home in Kunduz and came to Kabul with five of her children.
23"If the government cannot do anything, it should just stop the bombardment and let the Taliban rule," she said.
24In one park in Kabul, there are 400 people living with only two toilets.
25There is no medical help and many people have health problems.
26Another woman, Najia, said she came from Kunduz with her five children and husband.
27She said they left after their home was caught in the battle.
28She said all types of ammunition were exploding nearby.
29"The whole north is ablaze with war," she said.
30I'm Dan Friedell.
1As the U.S. military leaves Afghanistan, Taliban fighters are trying to take over parts of the country. The Taliban members are fighting against Afghan government soldiers in the north, and many people are running away from the violence. 2The people trying to escape the fighting are running to the capital city of Kabul, where they live in open green spaces known as parks, and on streets with little food or water. 3About 17,000 people left their homes in the north and came to Kabul in the last two weeks, said a spokesman for the Afghan government. 4Michelle Bachelet is the United Nations' human rights chief. She said close to 200 civilians were killed and over 1,000 were injured since only Monday during fighting in the cities of Lashkar Gah, Kandahar, Herat and Kunduz. 5In reality, she said, the numbers may be much higher. Bachelet said people told the U.N. stories of civilians being lined up and killed, attacks against Afghan government officials and their families, homes and schools being destroyed and mines and explosive devices being placed on the ground. 6With the exit of the soldiers who worked to keep Afghanistan safe from the Taliban for 20 years, Bachelet said the U.N. is worried progress in human rights will be lost. 7One teenager, Nasir Ahmed, said he saw Taliban fighters hurting a man who had a photo of himself with the Afghan flag on his phone. He said he also saw fighters hurting women whose head coverings were not correct. 8He said he left his village because the fighting was too close. He is worried about his future. 9"I missed the last year of school because of COVID-19 and this year because of war. I don't see any future for myself," he said. 10One woman said she has been in a park in the northern part of Kabul for three days. The government offered no help. She has been getting food from other people. She left her village after some of the men in her family were killed while fighting the Taliban. Other men in her family were killed later because they were related to those fighting against the Taliban. 11"The Taliban have no mercy," she said. 12Some people in the parks are worried that their government will not be able to defeat the Taliban. Fawzia Karimi left her home in Kunduz and came to Kabul with five of her children. 13"If the government cannot do anything, it should just stop the bombardment and let the Taliban rule," she said. 14In one park in Kabul, there are 400 people living with only two toilets. There is no medical help and many people have health problems. 15Another woman, Najia, said she came from Kunduz with her five children and husband. She said they left after their home was caught in the battle. She said all types of ammunition were exploding nearby. 16"The whole north is ablaze with war," she said. 17I'm Dan Friedell. 18Tameem Akhgar wrote this story for the Associated Press. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 19What do you think should be done in Afghanistan? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 20__________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22related -adj. in the same family 23mercy -n. kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly 24bombardment -n. an attack with large guns or bombs 25toilet -n. a large bowl attached to a pipe that is used for getting rid of bodily waste and then flushed with water 26ablaze -v. in the process of burning