Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


UN Documents 30% Drop in Afghan Civilian Casualties

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - The United Nations says the conflict in Afghanistan has
   killed and injured nearly 6,000 civilians during the first nine months
   of 2020, representing a 30% decline compared to the same period last
   year.

   The report compiled by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
   (UNAMA) comes as direct peace negotiations between Afghanistan's
   warring parties have been underway in Qatar since September 12, though
   without any progress.
   Just hours after the world body released its findings Tuesday, a bomb
   went off in Kabul, the Afghan capital, killing at least three civilians
   and injuring 10 others.
   UNAMA has documented 2,117 civilian deaths and 3,822 injures from
   January 1 to September 30, saying the war-ravaged country remains among
   the deadliest places in the world to be a civilian.
   Child casualties during the reported period amounted to 31% of all
   civilian casualties, and women casualties 13%.
   "While the number of civilian casualties documented is the lowest in
   the first nine months of any year since 2012, the harm done to
   civilians remains inordinate and shocking," the report said.
   UNAMA noted the outgoing month is outside of the scope of the report,
   but intensified battlefield attacks, a suicide bombing and an Afghan
   government airstrike together have killed and injured more than 400
   civilians since October 1.

.