Oslo, March 21 (NationPress) The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has alerted that more than 115,000 individuals have been displaced in Afghanistan, with the humanitarian situation for civilians deteriorating amid the escalating conflict between the Taliban and Pakistan.

“Families already struggling to survive have been forced out of their homes. Thousands are now seeking shelter in temporary camps or with local families, while others are compelled to rent inadequate housing that they can barely afford. They have lost access to clean water, healthcare, and education,” stated Jacopo Caridi, NRC’s Director in Afghanistan.

Since the onset of the Pakistani military strikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nangarhar provinces in February, up to 76 Afghan civilians have lost their lives, and an additional 213 have sustained injuries, according to the NRC.

Pointing to the tragic airstrike on March 16 targeting a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, which resulted in numerous fatalities, the aid agency noted that the increasing assaults on urban centers suggest a significant escalation in hostilities.

The NRC reported that at least 800 homes have been damaged throughout Afghanistan, leaving families likely facing years of recovery from their losses.

“It is crucial for all parties involved in the conflict to abide by international humanitarian law. Civilians and their infrastructure should never be targeted,” emphasized Caridi.

Sharing his traumatic experience, 65-year-old Afghan civilian Bakhtiar recounted fleeing his home in Torkham, near the Pakistan border, with his six children amid severe shelling.

“At around 10 PM, we suddenly heard rockets and gunfire. Within moments, the intensity increased dramatically. We had no choice but to escape,” Bakhtiar recalled.

The aid organization highlighted that Afghanistan has been severely impacted by reductions in aid funding, placing it among the least funded humanitarian responses worldwide. Ongoing conflict further restricts access to the limited support available.

“In a world filled with unrest, Afghans must not be overlooked. Soaring food prices and border closures are exacerbating the survival challenges for families already devastated by conflict,” Caridi remarked.

Hostilities intensified when Taliban-led Afghan forces initiated counter-operations against Pakistani military targets on February 27, following Pakistan’s incursions into Afghan territory on February 21.

Earlier on Wednesday, Afghanistan announced a temporary halt to its 'Rad al-Zulm' defensive operations for Eid upon requests from mediating nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey.

Pakistan also declared a brief suspension of military activities for Eid, with Information Minister Ataullah Tarar stating that the decision was made at the behest of regional mediators.

However, Afghanistan’s Chief of Armed Forces, Fasihuddin Fitrat, accused the Pakistani military of breaching the ceasefire along the Durand Line, as reported by local media.

Multiple casualties were reported due to attacks carried out by Pakistani forces in border regions, according to a statement from Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence.

Fitrat asserted that Pakistan's ongoing assaults, despite the ceasefire, “demonstrate a lack of commitment and deceit” on Islamabad’s part, as per Afghanistan-based Ariana News.