KABUL, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed that at least 28 civilians were killed by airstrikes in two Afghan provinces late last month, the UN mission said in a statement on Friday.
"The UNAMA is gravely concerned by the killing of at least 28 civilians and injury of 16 others - all women and children - during air strikes in Herat and Logar provinces this week," the statement read.
On Aug. 30, 13 civilians were killed and 12 others wounded after U.S. forces struck a compound on the outskirts of Pul-e-Alam, capital of the eastern Logar province.
"The air strikes reportedly targeted Anti-Government Elements as they used a civilian compound to attack aircraft. UNAMA notes the news release issued by United States Forces in Afghanistan that it is aware of an incident in the Logar area and that they have opened an investigation into it," the statement added.
On Aug. 28, an airstrike reportedly conducted by Afghan air force claimed the lives of 15 civilians and injured four others in Shindand district, western Herat province.
"I am deeply saddened to hear that women and children have once again suffered so terribly from the conflict," Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, was quoted in the statement as saying.
UNAMA urges authorities to ensure independent, impartial and prompt investigations of both incidents at the earliest opportunity, and for appropriate steps to be taken to ensure accountability, compensation for victims and the prevention of such incidents in the future, according to the statement.
More than 1,660 civilians were killed and over 3,580 others injured in conflict-related incidents in the first half of this year, according to figures released by UNAMA.
