United Nations (UN) figures show that the number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan’s long-running conflict hit a record high of 1,692 fatalities in the first six months of 2018.
United Nations (UN) figures show that the number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan’s long-running conflict hit a record high of 1,692 fatalities in the first six months of 2018.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, said in a report published on Sunday that the death toll was one percent higher than a year earlier and the highest since the group began keeping records in 2009.
Militant attacks and bombings were reported as the leading causes of the deaths in the war-torn country.
Another 3,430 civilians sustained injuries in the conflict, down by five percent from the same period last year, according to UNAMA.
Overall civilian casualties — 5,122 — fell three percent year on year.
The UN mission, established at the request of the Afghan government, said the record high death toll came despite an unprecedented ceasefire between Afghan security forces and the Taliban militants last month.
