Afghan Civilian Casualties At Record High In First Half Of 2016: UN
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published July 25, 2016 | 02:00 PM
KABUL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th july,2016) - Civilian casualties in Afghanistan touched a record high in the first half of 2016, the UN said Monday, with children in particular paying a heavy price as insurgent groups step up fighting. Between January and June, 1,601 civilians were killed and 3,565 were wounded -- a four percent increase in casualties compared to the same period last year, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said. The casualties have reached their highest level since the UN began issuing its authoritative reports in 2009. The casualties include 1,509 children -- a figure the UN described as "alarming and shameful". The statistics are a grim indicator of growing insecurity in Afghanistan as the Taliban step up their nationwide insurgency and the Islamic State group seeks to expand their foothold in the east of the country.
"Every single casualty documented in this report -- people killed while praying, working, studying, fetching water, recovering in hospitals -- every civilian casualty represents a failure of commitment and should be a call to action for parties to the conflict to take meaningful steps to reduce civilians' suffering," UNAMA chief Tadamichi Yamamoto said. "Platitudes not backed by meaningful action ring hollow over time.
History and the collective memory of the Afghan people will judge leaders of all parties to this conflict by their actual conduct." The report comes after the deadliest attack for 15 years in Kabul killed 80 people and left hundreds maimed, an assault claimed by IS.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Pakistan v New Zealand T20I series: Tickets to go on sale from today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 29 March 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 29 March 2024
Journalists call for global action to end Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
CM for generating opportunities to bring direct int'l investment
Pakistan retains position in FTSE secondary emerging market
High Commissioner of Malaysia hosts Iftar dinner reception
NEPRA announces 2nd quarterly adjustment in power bills with Rs 1.68 cut per uni ..
Hoopo Inc. Collaborates with SAU to Install Solar-Powered RO Plant
04 killed in Spain as Storm Nelson looms
Russian military jet crashes into sea off Crimea: Governor
Rain-windstorm/thunderstorm likely at various parts of country
More Stories From World
-
Biden, Obama, Clinton rake in cash at NYC campaign stop
1 hour ago -
Israeli strike kills 36 Syrian soldiers near Aleppo: war monitor
1 hour ago -
Russian veto ends monitoring of UN's N.Korea sanctions
1 hour ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
1 hour ago -
Football: Spanish La Liga table
2 hours ago -
World court orders Israel to unblock Gaza food aid, as famine lurks
2 hours ago
-
Football: English Premier League table
2 hours ago -
Greek govt defeats censure motion over train tragedy
2 hours ago -
Baltimore bridge, port recovery will be 'very long road'
2 hours ago -
Ecuador prison riot leaves three dead, six injured
2 hours ago -
In Canada's Quebec, residents miffed over mining boom
2 hours ago -
Hope yet for future of battered and bruised Commonwealth Games
2 hours ago