Civilian casualties from operations conducted by both the Taliban and Afghan forces increased in April, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
The Taliban were responsible for 208 civilian casualties in April, an increase of 25 per cent in comparison to April 2019 and at similar levels as March 2020, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a statement.
Civilian casualties attributed to Afghan forces for April 2020 numbered 172 civilians, an increase of 38 per cent compared to April 2019 and 37 per cent higher than March 2020, according to statement which said the data was provisional.
The United Nations is deeply concerned by both the increase in civilian harm and the striking deterioration of parties’ respect for international humanitarian law, demonstrated by the recent shocking attacks on healthcare facilities and threats to healthcare workers, failures to take all feasible precautions in conducting airstrikes, and the use of large amounts of explosives in civilian-populated areas, the statement said.
“I call for a haltto the fighting and for parties to respect humanitarian law that is there to protect civilians,”said Deborah Lyons, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan. “Parties have committed to finding a peaceful solution and should protect the lives of all Afghans and not jeopardise people’s hope for an end to the war,” said Lyons, who is also head of UNAMA. “Intra-Afghan peace negotiations need to start as soon as possible.”
UNAMA said that 15 healthcare workers were abducted by the Taliban since the start of April. It said that there was also confiscation of medical supplies by Afghan forces. UNAMA said that medical personnel and facilities have special protection from attack.
“Any incidents affecting people, places and supplies necessary for healthcare provision can have serious and wide-ranging consequences, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. Intentional attacks on civilians and civilian objects, including medical facilities or protected personnel, may amount to war crimes,” it said.
“The UN urges all parties to stop the war of words that is not helping those Afghans working to have intra-Afghan negotiations commence at the earliest time,” the statement said. “In recent weeks the accusatory nature and bellicose tone of statements from all sides have played a negative and unhelpful role.”
