LOC13:33
10:33 GMT
ISLAMABAD, July 25 (KUNA) -- At least 1,601 civilian have been killed and 3,565 others injured in the first half of the current year, recording a surge of four percent compared to the corresponding period in 2015, said United Nations report on Monday.
A report released by UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said that this year's casualties included 1,509 children (388 dead and 1,121 injured), the highest numbers of children killed or wounded in a six-month period since 2009. UNAMA's report documented the killing of 130 women during the period with another 377 injured.
Taliban rebels and other anti-government outfits were blamed for at least 60 percent of the non-combatants killed and wounded where casualties caused by pro-government forces rose by 47 percent, as UNAMA accused Afghan forces for 22 percent of casualties. The US-led NATO troops caused 2 percent of civilian deaths and injuries and seventeen percent could not be attributed to any warring party, said the report.
According to the report, ground engagements continue to cause the highest number of civilian casualties, followed by complex and suicide attacks and improved explosive devices (IEDs).
It said that the nascent Afghan Air Force (AAF) caused more civilians than air strikes conducted by foreign soldiers. Despite more commitments by both parties, few concrete actions were taken to ensure protection of civilians, the mission noted.
A 10 percent increase in displaced Afghans was noted bringing the estimated total number of conflict-induced internally displaced Afghans to 1.2 million.
The report said the total civilian casualty figures recorded between January 2009 and June 30, 2016 have risen to 22,941 deaths and 40,993 injured.
The report also documents other serious human rights violations and abuses, including the deliberate targeting of women in the public sphere, use of children in armed conflict, sexual violence against boys and girls, attacks on educational and health facilities, abductions and summary executions.
The Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Tadamichi Yamamoto stressed that the report must serve as a call to action by parties to the conflict "to do all they can to spare civilians from the horrors of war." The report was released just days after deadly suicide attacks in Kabul killing over 80 people and injuring 230 others. (end).
sbk.tg