United Nations Radio

The number of civilians killed in the conflict in Afghanistan during the first six months of 2009 has risen by 24 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Afghan refugees

A report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) says 1,013 civilians were killed between January and June this year. Patrick Maigua reports from Geneva

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In its mid-year report on the situation of civilians in armed conflict, the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan says both anti-government elements and pro-government forces were responsible for the increase in civilian casualties. However, nearly 60 per cent of the deaths were as a result of attacks by insurgents. Suicide, car and roadside bombings remain the main cause of civilian deaths in the conflict. The report says anti-government elements were changing their tactics and deliberately targeting civilians in residential areas. Rori Mungoven is the head of the Asia-Pacific unit at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

" Although such attacks are frequently directed at military or government targets, they are often carried out in crowded areas with apparent disregard for the high levels of deaths and injuries that they cause to civilians. UNAMA remains concerned that anti government elements base themselves in areas where civilians are concentrated in order to blur their distinction between combatants and civilians and there seems to be an active policy on the part of the insurgents aimed at drawing a military response to areas where there is a high likelihood of civilians being killed or injured."

He says air strikes remain the largest cause of civilian deaths attributed to the international military forces, during the first six months of 2009. The report documents 40 incidents of air strikes since the beginning of 2009 in which 200 civilians reportedly lost their lives. The report notes that as the conflict in Afghanistan intensifies, vulnerable groups continue to suffer in terms of destruction of vital infrastructure, loss of income and earning opportunities, and deterioration of access to essential services.

Patrick Maigua, UN Radio Geneva.
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