Afghanistan: This Child Was Still Holding His Books and a Pencil before Entering the Hospital.

This morning, a central district of Kabul, Afghanistan, was the scene of a deadly attack. A car, loaded with explosives, blew up near a Ministry of Defence building.

Our hospital immediately began to receive the wounded: 38 people. 22 of them needed to be hospitalised for surgery, while the others would be treated as outpatients. Two died on arrival. As the day progressed, the number of patients at our Surgical Centre for War Victims rose to 45. Many are children. They were going to school. School children.

Meanwhile, outside, the fighting continues. We hear the gunshots and other smaller explosions.

This child was still holding his books and a pencil before entering the hospital.

Photo credit: Jim Huylebroek.