Over 10,000 civilian casualties documented in Afghanistan in 2019: UNAMA

Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 16:01:37|Editor: xuxin
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AFGHANISTAN-NANGARHAR-CIVILIAN CASUALTIES-UNAMA

Photo taken on Feb. 22, 2020 shows disabled children in Surkh Rod district of Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented more than 10,000 civilian casualties in 2019, of these more than 3,400 had been killed, said a report of the body released here Saturday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

KABUL, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented more than 10,000 civilian casualties in 2019, of these more than 3,400 had been killed, said a report of the body released here Saturday.

"Parties to the conflict in Afghanistan killed and injured more than 10,000 civilians in 2019 and of these the report documents 3,403 civilians killed and 6,989 injured, with the majority of the civilian casualties inflicted by anti-government elements," the report added.

It is the sixth year in a row that the number of civilian casualties has exceeded 10,000, the report further said.

The release of the report coincided with the observance of seven-day "violence reduction" in the country beginning early Saturday.

"Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UNAMA.

"It is absolutely imperative for all parties to seize the moment to stop the fighting, as peace is long overdue; civilian lives must be protected and efforts for peace are underway."

The report called upon the warring sides to prevent civilian casualties.

"All parties to the conflict must comply with the key principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution to prevent civilian casualties," said Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights.

"Belligerents must take the necessary measures to prevent women, men, boys and girls from being killed by bombs, shells, rockets and improvised mines; to do otherwise is unacceptable."

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