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INTERNATIONAL

Taliban, Afghan Forces At War

The United Nations has expressed deep concerns about the safety and protection of tens of thousands of people in Afghanistan's Lashkar Gah, who could be trapped by heavy fighting between afghan government forces and the Taliban.

Fighting has been particularly heavy around the city of Herat, near the Western Border with Iran, and Lashkar Gah and Kandahar in the South.

According to the U.N. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, since the start of the year nearly 360,000 people have been forcibly displaced by the conflict in Afghanistan. About 5 million people have been displaced since 2012.

The UN spokesman said in Helmand and Kandahar there are reported increased civilian casualties, destruction or damage to civilian houses, as well as to critical infrastructure and hospitals.