Afghan civilian death toll jumps 31 per cent due to insurgent attacks - UN
UNITED NATIONS. August 11. KAIZNFORM A rise in insurgent attacks has led to a 31 per cent increase in the number of civilians killed in Afghanistan in the first six months of 2010 compared with the same period in 2009, the United Nations said in a new report released yesterday.
The total number of civilian casualties in the first six months of this year, according to the human rights section of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA ), is 3,268 - including 1,271 deaths and 1,997 injuries.
"The human cost of this conflict is unfortunately rising," Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of UNAMA, said during a news conference in Kabul to present the 2010 Mid-Year Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.
Of the total number of casualties, 2,477 were attributed to anti-government elements (AGEs), representing 76 per cent of all casualties, up 53 per cent from 2009, while 386 were attributed to pro-government forces (PGF) activities, representing 12 per cent of all casualties, down from 30 per cent in 2009.
The number of children killed or injured has risen 55 per cent, along with 6 per cent more women, over the same period last year, the report found.
"Afghan children and women are increasingly bearing the brunt of this conflict. They are being killed and injured in their homes and communities in greater numbers than ever before," said Mr. de Mistura.
The report also noted a 30 per cent drop in the number of casualties attributed to PGF during the reporting period, which it said is driven by a 64 per cent decline in deaths and injuries caused by aerial attacks, UN News Centre informs.
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