Afghan Civilian Casualty Figures at Record High - UN Warns

By Staff, Agencies

Record numbers of civilians were either killed or injured in Afghanistan in intense fighting since 1 May, when international forces began their final drawdown and the Taliban launched a major offensive.

The heavy toll so far came largely from battles in rural areas, according to the United Nations [UN]. If the conflict were to spill into more densely populated towns and cities, the consequences could be catastrophic, the UN in its report entitled “The Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.”

Swathes of the country have fallen to the terrorists since they launched their offensive two months ago to coincide with the original deadline authorities set for US and other forces to leave the country. The UN report is considered the first nationwide account of the impact of the fighting on civilians.

It noted that “near-record levels of casualties in the first six months of the year,” with terrorist groups responsible for well over half of the deaths and injuries. It also said the “acute rise” in the two months since 1 May is of particular concern.

In that period 783 civilians lost their lives and 1,609 sustained injuries, almost equivalent to the toll during the first four months of the year, and the highest figures for May and June since the UN began keeping records in 2009.

They are also likely to be the worst since the Taliban were toppled from power in 2001.

The increase in civilian casualties ends a four-year period in which they had steadily declined between January and June, despite increasing instability nationwide.

Improvised mines were the leading cause of casualties, responsible for more than one in three deaths and injuries. Recent fighting appears to have led to more being placed on roads and inside homes in areas the Taliban seized.