Civilian casualties down by 12pc: UN

KABUL (PAN): For the first time in six years, civilian casualties in Afghanistan’s armed conflict dropped by 12 percent in 2012, the United Nations said in its annual report on Tuesday.

Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) prepared the Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict prepared in coordination with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The UN mission documented a marginal increase in civilian injuries last year, compared with 2011. It recorded 2,754 civilian deaths and 4,805 injuries, saying 14,728 civilians lost their lives over the past six years.

The fall was linked to fewer deaths and injuries of civilians from ground engagement among parties to the conflict and a decline in suicide attacks by rebels, smaller numbers of aerial operations.

By: Obaidullah Hussam and Ataullah Khpulwok

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