UN figures show that government and pro-government forces have killed 305 civilians in Afghanistan, with US and NATO airstrikes killing 145 civilians in the beginning of 2019.
The United States, the Afghan government, and the forces allied to them have killed more civilians in the first three months of 2019 than the Taliban, a UN report has revealed.
The report, published on Wednesday, found that from January 1st to March 31st, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented an overall 1,773 civilian casualties, with 581 deaths and 1,192 injuries, as well as 582 child casualties with 150 deaths and 432 injuries. [1] It also found that of these civilian deaths, Afghan forces and pro-government fighters were responsible for 305 of them, including 145 civilians killed in NATO and US airstrikes. [1]
The report said:
“UNAMA is very concerned by the continued targeting of civilians and increase in civilian casualties from the use of non-suicide IEDs by Anti-Government Elements, as well as significant increases in civilian casualties from aerial and search operations, which drove an overall increase in civilian casualties by Pro-Government Forces. Civilian deaths attributed to Pro-Government Forces surpassed those attributed to Anti-Government Elements during the first quarter of 2019.” [1]
It also added:
“UNAMA notes with concern that Pro-Government Forces were responsible for more civilian deaths than Anti-Government Elements during the first quarter of 2019. UNAMA attributed 17 per cent of civilian casualties to the Afghan national security forces, 13 per cent to international military forces, two per cent to pro-Government armed groups, and two per cent to multiple Pro-Government Forces” [1]
The Taliban and other anti-government forces were responsible for 963 casualties, with 227 deaths and 763 injuries. This figure, according to UNAMA, represents a 36% decrease compared to the same time period in 2018. [1]
The UN mission also found that aerial operations had increased harm to civilians. From this form of combat, civilian casualties were the highest in the first quarter of any year since UNAMA began its systematic documentation. The mission has now called for more transparency and accountability from the government and its allies regarding the civilian casualties and deaths.
“UNAMA looks forward to seeing progress on this issue. UNAMA urges both the Afghan national security forces and international military forces to conduct investigations into allegations of civilian casualties, to publish the results of their findings, and to provide compensation to victims as appropriate.” [1]
The report represents a major setback for the US and NATO-led mission which, for many years, pointed out that the Taliban and other anti-government forces were responsible for large civilian casualties. However, the statistics, for the beginning of this year at least, have now proved otherwise.
The revelations also contradict statements released by the Afghan government who said that “the real reason behind the number of civilian casualties is Armed militants who use civilians as their shield & use their homes as their battleground”. [2]
The United States and its NATO allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the September 11 attacks and ousted the Taliban from power. US and NATO forces withdraw from the country in 2014, leaving behind a small force that would support the Afghan military. However, the conflict between the Taliban and the Afghan government continues.
Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/unama_protection_of_civilians_in_armed_conflict_-_first_quarter_report_2019_english_.pdf
[2] https://twitter.com/PICCAfgn/status/1121314355138768896
1 Comment
When US UK RUSSIA ISRAEL KILLED thousands and thousands of innocents in Iraq ,Afghanistan ,Libya ,Palestine, Pakistan Chechnya ,so don’t we think one of those man who lost everything in air strikes and firing by all these countries will not take revenge ?
Its human nature if we any one don’t get justice he will move for other options .
People crying for western countries but they never cried for all those innocent peoples of victim countries.
JUST STOP INVADING AND OTHER COUNTRIES .we all know that all these countries were developed and were living peacefully before the invasion of US .
Please tell me the difference between a bunch of Muslims killing innocent civilians, and drones sent by the West massacring entire families in Pakistan and Afghanistan. When ‘they’ kill, it’s terrorism, when ‘we’ kill, it’s necessary in order to ‘protect our way of life’. Blatant hypocrisy.
IA
http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk