Following weeks of cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban, education in parts of Afghanistan’s Kunar province has been severely disrupted, leaving children without access to regular schooling.
In the border village of Barikot in Nari Kunar district, the local school building has been destroyed during reported artillery exchanges, forcing a complete suspension of classes in the area. Residents say the damage has rendered the facility unusable, with no immediate alternative available for enrolled students.
The disruption comes amid wider displacement across the region. Humanitarian coordination estimates indicate that more than 94,000 people have been displaced due to ongoing tensions, with Kunar accounting for a significant share of affected families.
Displaced residents from areas along the Kunar River are currently living in temporary shelters under difficult conditions. Many families report limited access to clean drinking water, with some required to walk long distances to meet basic daily needs.
Local officials in Kunar have stated that schools in nearby districts, including Marwara and the provincial capital Asadabad, are already operating at capacity and are unable to accommodate displaced students. Authorities have indicated that relocation options are being considered, including temporary settlement arrangements in existing displacement camps.
Teachers in the border region have expressed concern over the prolonged closure of educational facilities. According to school staff, nearly 200 enrolled students have been left without access to formal education since the disruption began.
Humanitarian conditions in displacement sites remain strained, with families reporting shortages of basic sanitation facilities and shelter space.
