1,692: Civilian deaths hit record high in Afghanistan

KABUL, July 15

The number of civilians killed in Afghanistan reached a record in the first half of the year, despite last month’s ceasefire, with a surge in suicide attacks claimed by Islamic State, the United Nations said on Sunday.

Deaths rose 1% to 1,692, although injuries dropped 5 per cent to 3,430, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in its latest civilian casualty report. Overall civilian casualties were down 3%. Hopes that peace may one day be agreed in Afghanistan were raised last month by a three-day truce over the Eid al-Fitr holiday which saw unprecedented scenes of Taliban fighters mingling with security forces in Kabul and other cities.

“The brief ceasefire demonstrated that the fighting can be stopped and that Afghan civilians no longer need to bear the brunt of the war,” a UN official said. But with heavy fighting seen across the country during the first half the year and repeated suicide attacks in Kabul and major provincial cities like Jalalabad, the report underlines the dire security situation facing Afghanistan. 

With parliamentary elections scheduled for October, there is concern about more violence as polling day approaches. — Reuters

Disturbing numbers

• 3,430 civilians injured in the first half of this year as Improvised explosive devices were the leading cause of civilian casualties
• 360 dead and 1,134 wounded in ground engagements between armed forces and militant groups, the second biggest cause of civilian casualties 
• 149 killed and 204 injured from air strikes, which have risen sharply under the US strategy of trying to force the Taliban to accept peace talks