UN Reveals 24 Percent Increase in Afghan Civilian Casualties

Speaking during a press conference in Kabul on June 9, UN human rights director, Georgette Gagnon, presented the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s report on the protection of civilians.

The 2014 Mid-Year Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict reveals a marked uptick in the Afghan conflict, with a staggering 24 percent increase in civilian casualties over the first half of 2014 when compared to the same period last year.

Between January 1 and June 30, UNAMA documented 4,853 civilian casualties and 1,564 civilian deaths in armed conflict in the country.

“More efforts are needed to protect civilians from the harms of conflict and to ensure accountability for those deliberately and indiscriminately killing them,” Gagnon said. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty