Skip to main content
Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

UN: Afghan civilian death toll up so far this year

Afghan health workers lift the shrouded body of a child in the hospital after a suicide attack in Parwan province, Afghanistan, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Four foreign soldiers are among more than a dozen people killed today in a suicide attack in eastern Afghanistan. The Czech Ministry of Defense says the four troops killed were from the Czech Republic.(AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Afghan health workers lift the shrouded body of a child in the hospital after a suicide attack in Parwan province, Afghanistan, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Four foreign soldiers are among more than a dozen people killed today in a suicide attack in eastern Afghanistan. The Czech Ministry of Defense says the four troops killed were from the Czech Republic.(AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Afghan health workers lift the shrouded body of a child in the hospital after a suicide attack in Parwan province, Afghanistan, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Four foreign soldiers are among more than a dozen people killed today in a suicide attack in eastern Afghanistan. The Czech Ministry of Defense says the four troops killed were from the Czech Republic.(AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

By Associated Press 4 min read

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – The number of Afghan civilians, including children, killed in violence rose by nearly 17 percent in the first half of this year, compared with the same period in 2013 as the fight is increasingly taking place closer to homes in populated areas, the U.N. said Wednesday.

The worrying trend comes as the Taliban and other militants grow bolder with their attacks on Afghan security forces in the fight for control of key routes and other territory ahead of the withdrawal of U.S. and allied combat troops by the end of 2014.

Afghans have frequently been caught up in the violence threatening their country, but the 85-page biannual U.N. report said that so far this year clashes, rockets and mortar strikes killed more civilians than roadside bombs and suicide attacks, a change from the past when most civilian casualties were blamed on roadside bombs.

It said the shift was directly related to the closure and transfer to Afghan security forces of more than 86 bases belonging to the U.S.-led coalition as well as an increase in assaults against a growing number of Afghan checkpoints and patrols near markets and public roads.

“This heightened their exposure to attacks … and often led to civilians, particularly women and children, being caught in the crossfire,” the report said.