AFGHAN CIVILIAN CASUALTIES UP 31%, UN SAYS
Baku, August 10 (AZERTAC). The number of civilians killed or injured in Afghanistan has jumped 31%, despite a fall in the number of casualties caused by Nato-led forces, according to the BBC.
More than 1,200 civilians were killed in the first six months of 2010 and another 1,997 civilians were injured, the latest UN six-monthly report shows.
The Taliban and other insurgents were responsible for 76% of the casualties, up from 53% last year.
With overall numbers up, correspondents say Afghans feel less secure than ever.
According to the UN report, the number of children killed or wounded rose 55% in the first six months of 2010 compared to the same period last year, with 176 children killed and 389 injured.
Most of the casualties were caused by insurgent attacks and roadside bombings, it said.
The report said that 386 - or 12% - of the Afghan casualties were due to US, Nato or other pro-government forces.
A UN report in January showed that civilian casualties in the Afghan conflict had risen by 14% in 2009 compared with 2008.
It said the "vast majority" of the more than 2,400 deaths had been caused by Taliban attacks.
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