Monday, July 26th 2021
Security situation in Afghanistan
UN expects civilian casualties to peak
The international troops withdraw, the Taliban gain influence: In Afghanistan the number of civilian casualties is increasing significantly. The United Nations sees “gloomy and frightening developments in the conflict” and warns of a dramatic increase in the number of deaths and injuries.
In view of the recent offensives of the radical Islamic Taliban in Afghanistan, the United Nations has warned of a sharp rise in civilian casualties. In a report, the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (Unama) said it expects the number of civilian casualties this year to reach its highest level since records began more than a decade ago. In parallel with the rapid withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan, violence in the country has increased sharply.
“An unprecedented number of Afghan civilians will be killed and injured this year if the increasing violence is not contained,” warns Unama director Deborah Lyons. She appeals to the Taliban and the Afghan government to put an end to “the gloomy and frightening development of the conflict and its devastating effects on the civilian population”.
Afghan troops and forces close to the government can be held responsible for a quarter of all civilian casualties. According to the report, a good 40 percent of all civilian casualties can be attributed to the Taliban, nine percent are due to the Islamic State jihadist militia.
According to Unama, around 1,660 civilians were killed and 3,250 injured in the first half of 2021 – an increase of 47 percent compared to the same period last year. The increase in civilian casualties was particularly strong in May and June, when the Taliban launched their wide-ranging offensives, according to the report. Almost half of all civilian victims are women and children.
In the past few months, the Taliban have conquered large parts of the country in parallel with the rapid withdrawal of US and other NATO troops. They now control around half of the approximately 400 districts in Afghanistan. Observers fear that the radical Islamists could take power again in Afghanistan after the complete withdrawal of international troops. The peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government in Doha have been stalled for months.
Air strikes in support of government forces
The United States also wants to support the government troops there with air strikes against the Taliban during its ongoing withdrawal from Afghanistan. “The United States has intensified air strikes in support of Afghan forces in the past few days. And we stand ready to continue this increased level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks,” said General Kenneth McKenzie in charge of the region a press conference in the capital Kabul. He did not want to comment on whether the US would like to continue this after the planned end of its military operation on August 31.
From 1996 until it was overthrown by US-led troops in 2001, the Taliban ruled Afghanistan and massively curtailed human rights. The US intervened in Afghanistan at the head of a NATO alliance shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
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