At least 1,920 civilians, including more than 700 children, have suffered casualties in southern Helmand province so far during the current year, a rights campaigner said on Saturday.
Afifa Marouf, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) head for Helmand, told Pajhwok Afghan News the province had once again witnessed most of the civilian casualties.
She said 1,920 civilians, including 722 children, were killed and wounded in airstrikes, explosions, face-to-face fighting and other incidents in the province.
“We are very concerned at this large scale of casualties caused by conflict,” Maroufi remarked, attributing the increased collateral damage to the disregard by the warring parties for international law.
The rights activist called on the parties involved to pay serious attention to preventing civilian casualties.
Abdul Haq Zwakman, a civil activist, said most of civilian casualties were caused by airstrikes. He called civilian casualties; especially harm to children, intolerable.
Qudratullah, an 18-year-old resident of Sangeen district, said: “I have lost both my legs as a result of a landmine explosion.”
The teenager added disability had made life miserable for him. “I would have been safe and sound if there was no conflict in my district,” he continued.
Omar Zwak, the governor’s spokesman, said sometimes civilian casualties resulted from airstrikes. “We always emphasize on the security forces to pay full attention to preventing civilian casualties.”
The report comes as civilian casualties have recently risen. As the latest example an airstrike in Moqor district of Badghis province Friday night, killed all six members of a family.
According to witnesses, a residence in Ander village of Moqor district came under airstrike last night that killed all members of a family.
A member of Badghis provincial council, confirms that a residential place was attacked.
He adds that it is not yet known whether the Afghan or foreign air forces have conducted the attack.
Local officials in Badghis have not commented in this regard.
