23 civilians killed in Helmand airstrike, finds UNAMA

KABUL has found.

In its investigation report released late Thursday, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said initial findings indicated the vast majority of the victims were women and children.

“The Mission is actively working to verify information indicating up to 10 children were killed along with eight women, and three children were injured, including an eight-year-old boy,” the report said.

The incident took place during an operation involving Afghan and international military forces, when international military forces conducted an airstrike following engagements between the forces on the ground and Taliban.

In addition, three days earlier, during fighting between Taliban and pro-government forces, three civilian homes were struck by explosive ordnance in Nad-e-Ali district, killing two civilians and injuring at least 14 more, including 10 children after Taliban initiated an attack from the vicinity of civilian homes against an Afghan National Army convoy returning to its base.

UNAMA has this year recorded a sharp increase in civilian casualties from aerial attacks in the first nine months of 2018, compared to the same period in 2017.

In the two incidents in Helmand province this week, UNAMA noted with particular concern that children were disproportionately impacted, comprising 55 per cent of the civilian casualties.

pr/ma