KABUL (SW): The United Nations said on Thursday that armed conflict in Afghanistan killed 763 civilians and injured 1495 in the first three months fo this year.
In the latest UN report on civilian casualties, the number of civilian casualties have not changed in the first three months of the year in comparison two previous years (2016 and 2017), however, this is the highest level has ever been reported in the country.
Suicide improvised explosive devices (IED) and complex attacks were the leading cause of civilian casualties – a new trend. The Mission found that combats on the ground were the second leading cause, followed by targeted and deliberate killings, explosive remnants of war, and aerial operations.
Of the total civilian casualties due to air strikes, 35% were done by the international forces, 35% by Afghan forces, and the remaining 30% has been carried out by the unknown pro-government groups.
The UN reported that the number of civilian casualties related to anti-government forces has also increased during the first three months of the year, with 1500 casualties of which 511 were killed and 989 were wounded. This figure is 6 percent higher than the same period last year.
UNAMA reported that as the civilian casualties by the pro-government forces dropped last year, in the first three months of this year as well; a 13 percent decrease has been noticed which totals 407 civilian casualties altogether including 176 dead and 231 wounded.
However, UNAMA’s report showed that pro-government forces were responsible for 18% of civilian casualties so far which accounts for 11% by security forces, 2% by international forces, 4% by pro-government forces, and 1% by pro-government armed groups in the first three months of 2018.
“All parties to the conflict in Afghanistan must do everything in their power to protect civilians from harm,” said Ingrid Hayden, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan.
The Taliban and the government have not yet said anything regarding this report.
ENDS
