UNAMA Releases civilian casualty data for first Quarter of 2016

At least 600 civilians were killed and 1,343 others were wounded in the first quarter of 2016, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said. 
Calling on all parties to the conflict to take precautions to protect civilians during the operations, the UN mission said release of the first quarter civilian casualty data for 2016 showed continued record numbers of civilian casualties, according to (Khaama Press). 
"Even if a conflict intensifies, it does not have to be matched by corresponding civilian suffering provided parties take their international humanitarian law and human rights obligations seriously," said Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA. "Failure to respect humanitarian obligations will result in more suffering in a nation that has suffered enough." According to the UN mission, it documented 1,943 civilian casualties (600 deaths and 1,343 injured) in the period between 1 January and 31 March 2016, adding that these figures mark an overall increase in civilian casualties of 2% compared to the same period in 2015 with a 13% decrease in deaths but an 11% increase in injuries. 
UNAMA further added that consistent with 2015 trends, ground engagements caused the highest number of total civilian casualties, followed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), complex and suicide attacks, as well as targeted killings. 
As usual, the anti-government armed militants have contributed the majority of the casualties to the civilians with UN mission saying 362 deaths and 800 injured were caused by Anti-Government Elements. 
UNAMA said this represents a 15% decrease compared to the same period in 2015, primarily due to a significant decrease in casualties from targeted killings (179 casualties – 103 deaths and 76 injured) and a 17% decrease in casualties attributed to IEDs (385 casualties – 113 deaths and 272 injured). 
The UN mission welcomed the decreases in casualties associated with these tactics as compared to the same period last year, but notes with concern the 26% increase in civilian casualties from complex and suicide attacks (354 casualties – 86 deaths and 268 injured).

Source: QNA