Civilian casualties up by 10pc: Samar

HERAT CITY (PAN Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) chief on Thursday said civilian casualties had risen nearly 10 percent in the first two months of the year, voicing her concern at the surge in violence.

Seema Samar told reporters in Herat City that 366 civilians had been killed in the first two months of the solar year, indicating 10 percent rise, compared with figures for the corresponding period in the previous year, when a total of 2176 civilians were killed.

She said her organisation was deeply concerned at the increasing civilian casualties in the conflict, calling on the warring parties to stay away from civilians.

She was addressing a gathering marking the 11th anniversary of AIHRC’s creation. Samar asked the government to ensure that women activists were protected.

She said the government was required to prepare the ground for bringing peace to the country and should make efforts at achieving freedom of press.

The AIHRC chief believed next year would bring relief to the Afghans because the influence of warlords would end.

Later, Governor Duad Shah Saba urged the AIHRC chief to expose the faces of those involved in violations of human rights in Afghanistan and do efforts to bring them to justice.

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