The conflict in Afghanistan continues to have a devastating impact on civilians, with the latest UN update released on Tuesday documenting 3,812 civilian casualties (1,366 deaths and 2,446 injured) in the first half of 2019.

Aerial operations from January through June killed and injured 519 people – 150 of which were child casualties (89 deaths and 61 injured) – a 39 percent increase in civilian casualties from airstrikes compared to the same period last year, according to UNAMA.  

UNAMA attributed 83 percent of the civilian casualties resulting from aerial operations to International Military Forces, nine percent to the Afghan Air Force, and the remaining eight percent to undetermined pro-Government forces (PGFs). 

At the same time, the UN Mission attributed 52 percent of all civilian casualties to anti-Government elements, with 38 percent attributed to Taliban, 11 percent to Daesh/Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), and three percent to unidentified anti-Government elements.

However, civilian deaths attributed to Pro-Government Forces (PGFs) exceeded those caused by AGEs for the second quarter in succession.

The UN supports the demand for all parties to reduce civilian casualties to zero, made in the joint declaration by Afghan participants from the 7-8 July 2019 Intra-Afghan Dialogue held in Doha.

"Everyone heard the message loud and clear from Afghan delegates in the Doha talks – 'reduce civilian casualties to zero!'" said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.

"We urge all parties to heed this imperative, to answer the call of Afghans for immediate steps to be taken to reduce the terrible harm being inflicted," added Yamamoto, who is also head of UNAMA.

Ground engagements remained the leading cause of civilian casualties, causing one-third of the overall total, albeit a 16 percent decrease compared to the first half of 2018.

The use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), mainly in non-suicide attacks, was the second leading cause, representing 28 percent of the total. Civilian casualties from aerial operations amounted to 14 percent.

ILKHA