AFGHANISTAN has passed a grim milestone, with more than 100,000 civilians killed or hurt in the 10 years since the United Nations began documenting casualties in a war that has raged for 18 years.
A report released yesterday by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan comes as a seven-day “reduction of violence” agreement between the US and Taliban takes effect, paving the way for a February 29 signing of a peace deal Washington hopes will end its longest war.
“Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN’s special representative for the war torn nation.
“It is absolutely imperative to seize the moment to stop the fighting, as peace is long overdue; civilian lives must be protected.”
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Last year there was a slight decrease in the numbers of civilians hurt or killed, which the report says was a result of reduced casualties inflicted by the Islamic State affiliate.
The group was drastically degraded by US and Afghan security forces and by the Taliban, who have also bitterly battled the Islamic State.
According to the UN report, 3,493 civilians were killed last year and 6,989 were injured.
While fewer civilians were hurt or killed by Islamic State fighters, more civilians became casualties at the hands of the Taliban and Afghan security forces and their American allies.
The report said there was a 21% increase in civilian casualties by the Taliban and an 18% rise in casualties blamed on Afghan security forces and their US allies who dropped more bombs last year than in any year since 2013.
“All parties to the conflict must comply with the key principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution to prevent civilian casualties,” said Michelle Bachelet, the US high commissioner for human rights.
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“Belligerents must take the necessary measures to prevent women, men, boys and girls from being killed by bombs, shells, rockets and improvised mines; to do otherwise is unacceptable.”
The seven-day “reduction in violence” began at midnight Friday. If it holds it will be followed by the signing of a long sought peace deal between the United States and the Taliban in the Middle Eastern state of Qatar where the Taliban maintain a political office.
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