VOA News
Lisa Schlein
July 25, 2016

GENEVA—A new report finds a record number of civilians in Afghanistan have been killed or maimed in the first half of this year.  The report issued by the U.N. Human Rights Office and U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan finds children account for nearly one-third of the more than 5,100 civilian casualties.

The U.N. reports nearly 64,000 civilians in Afghanistan have been killed or maimed since counting began in January 2009.  The report notes a progressive worsening of the situation, with civilian casualties reaching a record high this year.

The report blames the Taliban, Islamic State and other so-called anti-government elements for a majority of civilian casualties.  It also finds, however, the number of casualties by pro-government forces is increasing.  It says ground attacks, followed by suicide bombings and unexploded remnants of war cause the greatest harm.

The report presents stark testimony by victims and their families of the agonizing impact these attacks have upon their lives.  U.N. human rights spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani tells VOA the victims come from all sectors of society.

“We are talking about children who are going outside to play and they never come back.  We are talking about this one woman who was sitting down to pray and a bomb went off nearby and she died.  There was one case of a shepherd who was minding his own business herding his sheep and pro-government elements showed up and beat him up with a stick.  And, they beat him so hard that the stick broke trying to get information from him,” said Shamdasani.

Shamdasani said the report also documents a host of serious human rights violations and abuses. She said women politicians and police officers are deliberately targeted, threatened, intimidated and, in some cases, killed.

“There is also the use of children, the recruitment and the use of children in armed conflict, sexual violence against boys and girls.  Attacks on educational facilities, attacks on health facilities, abductions of civilians, including mass abductions, summary executions,” said Shamdasani.

Shamdasani added that human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and judges are particularly vulnerable.

She said the deliberate targeting of civilians and the use of heavy weaponry in civilian-populated areas may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity. She also said civilian casualties must be investigated and perpetrators brought to justice.

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