Most civilians affected by the two-decade conflict in Afghanistan remain without justice, reparation, or formal recognition of their suffering, according to a United Nations report released Tuesday. The report highlights the ongoing plight of victims nearly five years after the withdrawal of international forces and the Taliban’s return to power.

The conflict, which began with the U.S.-led military intervention in 2001 following the September 11 attacks, resulted in extensive civilian casualties over the subsequent 20 years. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented more than 40,000 civilian deaths and approximately 77,000 injuries caused by Taliban insurgents, the Islamic State group, Afghan government forces, and international military operations. The assessment, which covers reports of civilian harm dating back to 2009, is among the most comprehensive studies on casualties from the war.

Sites such as Tapa-e-Shuhada (Martyrs’ Hill) in Kabul bear witness to the human cost, with many graves of victims from targeted communities such as the Hazara, who suffered repeated attacks during the conflict. Among those buried there is 21-year-old Suhaila, who was killed in an assault on Kabul University, and Muhammad Hadi, 17, who died in an October 2020 attack on a preparatory school for university entrance exams claimed by the Islamic State group.

Survivors like Mohammad, a 25-year-old wounded in the same school attack, describe the lasting psychological impact. Aiming to become a computer engineer before the attack, Mohammad now works sporadically as a tailor and struggles with ongoing mental health issues. “I have lost my focus,” he said, noting that fear continues to affect his life. His mother expressed concern over his nightmares and the toll the trauma has taken on her own well-being.

UNAMA’s interviews with nearly 200 survivors indicated that 95% suffered psychological harm ranging from memory loss to depression and suicidal thoughts. The report underscores the lack of adequate support systems for victims enduring these long-term effects.

In Logar province, south of Kabul, the story of 46-year-old farmer Khan Yousufi illustrates challenges in seeking accountability. His eight-year-old son was killed when an Afghan Republic police tank opened fire near their home. His wife was also shot and severely injured when she rushed to help the child. Despite repeated complaints to authorities during the former government’s tenure, Yousufi said his pleas for justice went unheeded.

The UN report emphasizes that most victims have been left without formal mechanisms for redress or acknowledgement, leaving many families feeling marginalized and forgotten in the aftermath of the conflict.