Afghanistan saw record number of civilian casualties in 2015, United Nations says

It attributed 62 percent of all civilian casualties to anti-government elements, which includes the Taliban who have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years.

The United Nations (UN) reported on Sunday that civilian casualties of the war in Afghanistan in 2015 left more than 3,500 civilians dead and almost 7,500 others wounded which included an unprecedented number of children.

The United Nations said in its annual report released on Sunday that there were 3,545 civilian deaths and 7,457 people wounded with children paying a particularly heavy toll, as Afghan security forces faced a surge in attacks by the Taliban and other armed groups.

According the report, ground engagements between parties to the conflict caused the highest number of total civilian casualties (fatalities and injuries), followed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and suicide and complex attacks.

“The report references commitments made by all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, however, the figures documented in 2015 reflect a disconnect between commitments made and the harsh reality on the ground”, said Bell, according to Reuters. Of the 11,002 civilian casualties, one in ten was a woman, and one in four was a child.

Another 17 percent were blamed on pro-government forces and two percent on worldwide military forces.

Afghan forces took over combat operations when NATO’s fighting mission ended in 2014.

With suicide attacks and increased ground fighting in and around populated areas being the main causes of the deaths and injuries, the latest number of civilian casualties was the highest number ever recorded of the Afghan hostilities and violence. Seventeen percent of all casualties in 2015 were caused by such forces, the report said. “This was the highest number of civilians killed and injured in one day since UNAMA began systematically recording civilian casualties in 2009”, it said.

The Afghan government has expressed grief over the spike in civilian deaths and injuries, the presidential palace said on Monday. Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi, a former governor of Herat province, was snatched by unidentified men in an upscale district of the Pakistani capital on Friday, police have confirmed.