(MENAFN- Afghanistan Times) AT News Report
KABUL: UNAMA takes note of the recent decision by the Afghan
Government to address reports of civilian casualties apparently caused by
pro-Government forces in three separate incidents on 8 and 9 March in Maidan
Wardak, Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, including the instruction of the
President for a review of mechanisms and procedures used in military operations
with a view to preventing civilian casualties, the agency said in a statement
sent to Afghanistan Times
Preliminary findings from the UN Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan (UNAMA) indicate that 24 civilians were killed and injured in three
separate operations by pro-Government forces on 8
and 9 March in Maidan Wardak, Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. 'UNAMA will
continue its independent fact-finding and share the findings with the concerned
parties. Initial findings indicate that the majority of the victims
were women and children. UNAMA notes with particular concern the high number of
deaths in these three incidents, as compared to injuries.'
The incidents in Maidan Wardak and Nangarhar provinces took
place on the evening of 8 March when the National Directorate of Security
Special Forces supported by international military forces carried out
operations against Taliban in Sayed Abad and Hisarak districts, respectively.
In both incidents, airstrikes by international military forces caused civilian
deaths and injuries. Thirteen women and children were killed and injured in the
Hisarak incident.
One day later, a pro-Government armed group, supported by
international forces, carried out an evening search operation in Barmal
district, Paktika province, against Taliban, that resulted in civilian
casualties, including children, the statement added.
In its 2018 Annual Protection of Civilians Report, released
in February 2019, UNAMA reported a sharp increase in civilian casualties from
aerial and search operations in 2018 compared to 2017. The report noted that
aerial operations by international military forces, as well as search
operations conducted by Afghan national security forces and pro-Government
armed groups, drove a 24 per cent overall increase in civilian casualties by
pro-Government forces.
UNAMA reminds all parties to the conflict to uphold their
obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians from
harm, including their obligation to take all feasible precautions to avoid
death or injury to civilians.
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