At least 484 civilians have suffered casualties — 184 martyred and 300 others wounded — in 18 provinces of the country in March, the Civilian Protection Advocacy Group (CPAG) said on Tuesday.
The group said 54 children and 27 women were among the victims. On March 26, President Ashraf Ghani ordered Afghan and international forces during an extraordinary security meeting to be careful about civilian lives in their operations.
He said civilian casualties were not acceptable. Despite the presidential recommendation, civilians suffered casualties during airstrikes and night raids, it added.
According to CPAG, civilian casualties increased three times in March, compared to February. About 165 civilian had suffered casualties in February.
The group’s findings show most of the casualties occurred in Kabul, where 24 civilians were killed and 120 others wounded as a result of different incidents.
In Nangarhar, around 42 civilians killed and 34 others wounded. In Kunduz, 14 members of a single family were martyred in an airstrike. In addition, three people were martyred and 49 wounded in Helmand.
On the other hand, targeted killings also increased. At least 25 civilians are killed in targeted attacks last month.
The CPAG called on the United Nations, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, civil society and people to take concrete steps for preventing civilian casualties.
The group also asked international forces, Taliban and other militant groups to protect civilian lives during the conflict.
The CPAG, comprised of 20 civil society institutions, publishes casualty figures every month and seeks advocacy for victims.
