As Afghanistan is plunged in a civil war between government forces and the marauding Taliban, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission  (AIHRC) said at least 1,677 civilians were killed and 3,644 were wounded in the first six months of this year, a whopping 80 percent increase in relation to the same period last year. The Taliban is deemed responsible for the bulk of these casualties. 

AIHRC said 1,594 security incidents occurred during this period when the fighting intensified between the insurgent and the government forces. Last year during the same period, 1,213 civilians were killed and 1,744 more were wounded.  

In 2021, 154 women are among those killed while other 350 women were wounded. The numbers for the last year were 126 killed and 171 wounded. The report also says 373 children also died in the conflict while 1,083 children suffered injuries. 

The Taliban is held responsible for 56 percent of the total civilian casualties (917 killed, and 2,061 injured); government forces and allied militias for 15 percent (229 killed, 565 injured); Daesh 7 percent (104 killed, 239 killed). 22 percent of casualties were attributed to unknowns.

The report also noted 451 incidents of IED explosions, roadside bombings, and car explosions, resulting in 1,987 civilians casualties ( both killed and injured). This includes 587 civilians killed, and 1,400 others injured. 

About 30 percent of the total number of civilian casualties ( 696 killed, 938 injured) was attributed to the targeted killings. According to AIHRC findings, rocket fire and heavy weapon use accounted for 18 percent of total civilian casualties in the first six months of 2021. 

In total, 940 civilians were harmed due to rocket fire in the first six months of 2021. This includes 212 civilians killed, and 728 others injured. The civilian casualties caused by rocket fire during the same period in 2020 were 378 in total. 

(SAM)