Civilian casualties in Afghanistan hit record highs amidst U.S. withdrawal, UN states

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Civilian casualties in Afghanistan hit record highs amid U.S. withdrawal, UN says

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Civilian casualties in Afghanistan reached record level highs in the very first half of 2021, as U.S. and union forces started withdrawing from the war-torn country, according to a United Nations report launched on Monday.

A significant spike in casualties began in May, when the withdrawal started in earnest and the Islamist Taliban made advances to take more area, the report stated.

The report discovered a 47% boost in the variety of civilians eliminated and hurt throughout Afghanistan in the very first 6 months of this year, compared to the exact same duration in 2020.

There were 2,392 civilian casualties taped in May and June, practically as high as the combined overall of 2,791 from the 4 previous months. The significant dive in casualties was around the exact same time global soldiers started to leave the nation and the Taliban stepped up their military operations. 

“I implore the Taliban and Afghan leaders to take heed of the conflict’s grim and chilling trajectory and its devastating impact on civilians,” stated Deborah Lyons, the U.N. secretary-general’s unique agent for Afghanistan, in a declaration accompanying the report. 

“The report provides a clear warning that unprecedented numbers of Afghan civilians will perish and be maimed this year if the increasing violence is not stemmed,” Lyons included. 

Taliban representative Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the findings of the report in a statement on Monday, calling them “biased and untrue.” The Afghan Security and Defense Forces likewise declined the report in an interview on Monday, according to CNN. 

The report comes as the Biden administration nears completion of its withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, and as the Taliban makes sensational bear down rural provinces in the war-torn nation. 

While the majority of the report’s taped casualties happened beyond cities in Afghanistan, the variety of dead and injured is most likely to climb up as the Taliban’s attacks move into metropolitan locations, according to the report. 

The report likewise stated that 32% of the casualties were kids and 14% were females, both record highs.

For the very first time, no casualties were credited to global military action throughout the very first half of 2021, according to the report. Instead, the violence has “taken on a distinctly Afghan fighting Afghan character.”

Anti-federal government forces was accountable for 64% of civilian casualties, according to the report. This consists of 39% of casualties that were credited to the Taliban, 9% credited to the Islamic State and 16% credited to undetermined, non-state stars.  

Meanwhile, pro-government forces was accountable for 25% of civilian casualties, with 23% credited to Afghan security forces and 2% credited to pro-government armed groups, the report stated.

The primary reason for civilian casualties was improvised explosive gadgets by opposition forces, followed by ground engagements in between celebrations, targeted killings by non-state groups and airstrikes by the Afghan Air Force, according to the report.

Lyons advised Taliban and Afghan leaders to discover a method to end the violence. 

“Stop the Afghan-against-Afghan fighting. Protect the Afghan people and give them hope for a better future,” she stated in the declaration. 

In April, Biden revealed a complete withdrawal of around 3,000 U.S. soldiers from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, successfully ending America’s longest war.

The report kept in mind that the U.S. and NATO withdrawal from the nation is more than 95% total and is set to end up by August 31. 

Until the withdrawal is completed, the U.S. continues to support Afghan forces with battle airplane. On Thursday, the U.S. released over night airstrikes versus Taliban targets. 

The Biden administration is likewise moving on with strategies to leave Afghans who assisted the U.S. and NATO union forces throughout the war. Thousands of them are waiting on approvals for their unique immigrant visa applications and might deal with retribution from the Taliban for their functions in the war.

The U.S. is dealing with allies to protect a number of abroad places for around 4,000 Afghan nationals and their households to move while their applications are processed.

CNBC’s Amanda Macias added to this short article.