15th February, 2016
 |
|
A DEADLY CONFLICT: A ruined neighbourhood in Kabul. PICTURE: File pic (Yan Boechat/www.freeimages.com) |
More than 3,500 civilians were killed and almost 7,500 were injured in Afghanistan in 2015 – the highest annual number recorded there since 2009 – with children making up a quarter of those killed or injured.
The annual report from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan revealed a four per cent increase in casualties over the previous year with a total of 11,002 civilians either killed or injured.
It also showed that 62 per cent of all civilian casualties were caused by anti-government elements and 17 per cent by pro-government forces – 14 per cent by Afghan security forces, two per cent by international military forces and one per cent by pro-government armed groups.
Ground engagements by parties involved in the conflict were responsible for the most deaths and injuries – 1,116 deaths and injuries to 3,021 people – while improvised explosive devices (IEDs) caused 713 deaths and injured 1,655.
The year saw a 37 per cent increase in women casualties and a 14 per cent increase in child casualties over the previous year.
Danielle Bell, director human rights at UNAMA, said the deaths and injuries to children were "particularly appalling".
"Unprecedented numbers of children were needlessly killed and injured last year – one in four casualties in 2015 was a child," she said. "Other children suffered the loss of parents, and increasingly, their mothers, sisters, and female role models – one in 10 casualties was a woman."
Nicholas Haysom, head of UNAMA and special representative of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, described the harm being done to civilians as "totally unacceptable" and called for "concrete" actions to be taken to protect people.
He said while a peace agreement would "no doubt" lead to a reduction in human casualties, until then all parties needed to commit to "taking every step that will avoid harm and injury to civilians".
– DAVID ADAMS
