Civilian casualties continue to rise in Afghanistan: UN report
Iran Press TV
Sun Feb 9, 2014 4:21PM GMT
A new United Nations report says there has been a sharp increase in civilian casualties in Afghanistan during recent years.
The UN report released Saturday showed that the number of civilian deaths in 2013 matched the record highs of 2011.
It also documented that over 3,000 civilian deaths and more than 5,500 injuries occurred during 2013.
Women and children increasingly bear the brunt of the ongoing insurgency across the militancy-riddled country, the report added. Moreover, the war has left hundreds of orphans as parents fell victim to the raging violence there.
The report blamed the rise in civilian fatalities on escalated fighting between Taliban militants and government forces.
'There are groups that are boasting about killing civilians, are making statements about how good it is that civilians are being targeted and killed. These groups should understand this might border on war crimes," United Nations Assistance Mission special representative Jan Kubis said.
Roadside bombs remain the biggest killer of Afghan civilians, followed by ground engagement between Afghan forces and anti-government elements, the report noted.
However, the UN report stopped short of mentioning civilian casualties caused by the US airstrikes and drone attacks.
The raids are a source of friction between Kabul and Washington as they often result in civilian deaths. The Afghan government has on numerous occasions warned Washington to stop attacks on innocent civilians.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity remains high in the country.
JR/PR/SL
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