AFGHAN CIVILIAN CASUALTIES UP BY 23 PERCENT: UN

New York, 24 Ramadan 1434/31 July 2013 (MINA) – The United Nations in its latest report released on Wednesday (31/7) in New York, said that the number of civilians killed or injured in war-related incidents in Afghanistan rose 23% during the first six months of 2013.

UN furrther added that around 1,320 civilians including women and children were killed and more than 2,500 were injured in war-linked incidents, Khaama Press quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

According to UN fighters groups were responsible for 74% of civilian deaths and injuries in the first half of the year, with Improvised explosive devices planted by insurgents still remaining the single biggest threat for Afghan civilians.

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In the meantime the report said that Afghan security forces and international troops also contributed to civilian casualties: 9% of the total.

The rest were caught in the crossfire or couldn’t be determined, the report added.

The UN report also found that a reduction in operations by foreign troops led to a drop in the such casualties caused by coalition airstrikes. However UN expressed concerns that the number of civilians injured or killed in ground clashes between Afghan forces and insurgents has soared.

According to the UN statistics, at least 443 civilians were killed and 917 others were injured in IED attacks from January through June, which shows an increase of 34 percent.

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At least 207 people were killed and 764 others were wounded in crossfire, the UN statistics shows.

U.N. urged all parties involved in the armed conflict to try harder to protect civilians from war-related violence. (T/P09/P03)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)