U.N.: Civilian Casualties Up 23% in Afghan War

Civilian casualties in the Afghan war rose 23 percent in the first half of this year due to Taliban attacks and increased fighting between insurgents and government forces, the U.N. said Wednesday.

The increase reverses a decline in 2012 and raises questions about how Afghan government troops can protect civilians as U.S.-led NATO troops withdraw from the 12-year war against the Taliban.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said 1,319 civilians died and 2,533 were injured as a result of the war from January 1 to June 30, up 23 percent from the same period in 2012.

UNAMA said there was a 14 percent increase in total civilian deaths and a 28 percent increase in total civilian injuries.

"The rise in civilian casualties in the first half of 2013 reverses the decline recorded in 2012, and marks a return to the high numbers of civilian deaths and injuries documented in 2011," it said.

The U.N. said 74 percent of the casualties were caused by insurgents, nine percent by pro-government forces and 12 percent as a result of ground fighting between the two sides.

The remaining four or five percent of civilian casualties were unattributed, caused mainly by explosive remnants of war, it added.

Insurgent bomb attacks remain the highest cause of civilian casualties, but increased ground fighting between Afghan troops and insurgents was the second leading cause.

"Despite Afghan forces leading almost all military operations countrywide, a permanent structure does not exist in relevant ANSF (Afghan security force) bodies to systematically investigate allegations of civilian casualties, initiate remedial measures and take follow-up action," the report warned.