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            UN: Afghan Civilian Casualties to Equal or Exceed Record

   by Peter Cobus

   Civilian casualties of the armed conflict in Afghanistan this year are
   projected to equal or exceed the country's deadliest year on record,
   the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced
   Wednesday in Kabul.

   According to UNAMA's "2015 Midyear Report on Protection of Civilians in
   Armed Conflict," 4,921 civilian casualties were documented in the first
   half of 2015. The 1,592 deaths and 3,329 injuries represent a one
   percent increase in total civilian casualties compared to the same
   period in 2014, the deadliest year for Afghan civilians on record.

   Some 90 percent of civilian casualties resulted from ground engagement,
   including "improvised explosive devices, complex and suicide attacks,
   and targeted killings," the report says.

   Civilian deaths and injuries caused by pro-government forces
   represented 16 percent of total civilian casualties -- 15 percent
   attributed to Afghan National Security Forces and pro-government
   militias, and 1-percent attributed to NATO and U.S. forces -- a 60
   percent increase over the same period last year.

   "Afghan civilians have suffered far too long from this destructive
   conflict," UNAMA chief Nicholas Haysom said. "The devastating
   consequences of this violence against civilians as documented in this
   report should serve to strengthen the broad conviction that peace is
   urgently needed."

   Prepared in coordination with the Office of United Nations High
   Commissioner for Human Rights, the report also shows a 23 percent
   increase in women civilian casualties and a 13 percent increase in
   children casualties.

   "The rise in the numbers of women and children killed and maimed from
   conflict-related violence is particularly disturbing," said Danielle
   Bell, UNAMA Director of Human Rights. "This year, UNAMA recorded the
   highest number of children and women casualties compared to the same
   period in previous years. All parties to the conflict must undertake
   stronger measures to protect civilians from harm. When the conflict
   kills or maims a mother, child, sister or brother, the repercussions
   for families and communities are devastating and long-lasting."

   UNAMA's [1]2014 report recorded the highest number of civilian
   casualties in a single year since the UN started keeping track in 2007,
   when civilian deaths and injuries topped 10,000.

   Today's report also recommended key steps for all parties to the
   violence to in order to mitigate civilian casualties.

   This report was produced in collaboration with VOA's Afghanistan
   service.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/un-afghan-civilian-casualites-to-equa
   l-or-exceed-record/2902184.html

References

   1. http://www.unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/human%20rights/2015/2014-Annual-Report-on-Protection-of-Civilians-Final.pdf
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/un-afghan-civilian-casualites-to-equal-or-exceed-record/2902184.html