UNAMA: 1,943 Afghan Civilians Dead, Injured In First Three-Months Of 2016
KABUL: (MEP) The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced Sunday that some 1,943 Afghan civilians have been killed or wounded in the first quarter of 2016 following deadly violence across the country.
In a statement issued by the mission, UNAMA detailed it documented 1,943 civilian casualties between January 1 and March 31. They said there were 600 recorded deaths and 1,343 injured adding that these figures mark an overall increase in civilian casualties of two per cent compared to the same period in 2015 with a 13 per cent decrease in deaths but an 11 per cent increase in injuries.
The UN mission stated almost a third of the casualties were children, as 161 were killed and 449 others injured over the first three months of 2016. The figure marked a 29-percent rise in comparison to the number recorded from January to March last year.
“Even if a conflict intensifies, it does not have to be matched by corresponding civilian suffering provided parties take their international humanitarian law and human rights obligations seriously,” said Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA. “Failure to respect humanitarian obligations will result in more suffering in a nation that has suffered enough.”
Actions by Anti-Government Elements caused at least 60 per cent of casualties while Pro-Government Forces caused at least 19 per cent. 16 per cent of civilian casualties resulted from fighting between Anti-Government Elements and Pro-Government Forces which could not be attributed to a specific party. Unattributed unexploded ordinance were responsible for the remaining casualties (six per cent).
The UNAMA further noted that 52 Afghan women also lost their lives and 143 sustained injuries in the first quarter of this year, registering a five-percent jump in the number of women casualties.
The mission said in its statement that it “believes that the establishment of a dedicated entity to investigate incidents of conflict-related harm to civilians is necessary. Perpetrators of human rights violations must be held accountable.”
UNAMA welcomes the decreases in casualties associated with these tactics as compared to the same period last year, but notes with concern the 26 per cent increase in civilian casualties from complex and suicide attacks (354 casualties – 86 deaths and 268 injured). UNAMA calls once again on Anti-Government Elements, specifically the Taliban, to cease the use of complex and suicide attacks on civilian targets and to apply a definition of civilian target consistent with international humanitarian law.
UNAMA condemned the 20 January Taliban suicide attack on the Moby Group staff shuttle bus that killed eight civilians and injured 30 others and notes with particular concern the group’s continuing threats to independent media outlets in Afghanistan.
The figures came days after the Taliban militant group announced the start of its annual spring offensive against Afghan security forces and US-led foreign forces across the country.
