June proves deadliest for Afghan civilians in 15 years

KABUL during the past 15 years as more than 1,000 people were either killed or wounded in violent incidents across the country, a group said on Monday.

‘Advocacy Group for Civilian Protection’ said it was deeply concerned about the surge in civilian casualties which it said were not acceptable.

Aziz Ahmad Tasal, a spokesman for the group, said 249 civilians were killed and 794 others wounded in June. “This is duty of all of us to make efforts at reducing civilian casualties.”

He said figures gathered from various sources showed June the deadliest month in the past 15 years for civilian casualties, caused due to insurgent attacks.

Tasal added most of the casualties in June took place in Kabul, Nangarhar, and Helmand provinces. Kabul witnessed the killing of as many as 180 people. More than 35 people were killed in Kandahar and 27 civilians in Helmand. Of all the 794 injured, more than 730 were in Kabul.

A statement readout by the group at a news conference here asked insurgents to avoid attacks in crowded areas and shun violence. It seriously urged the government to make its security forces avoid operations in residential areas.

The statement said more deadliest events were expected in the coming months because insurgents lacked a clear definition for civilians and the government also had not taken practical steps their protection.

The study by the group cited unawareness about war areas, firefighting in crowded and populated areas, lack of mine-clearing progammes in recaptured areas, mistaken strikes by foreign and national forces, bombardment of civilian houses as reasons behind the increased civilian deaths.

The advocacy group is comprised of 16 different civil society organizations and is active in six zones of the country, including Kabul.

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