Over a thousand Afghan civilians have been killed in terror attacks ever since the Taliban interim government took over in Afghanistan on August 15, 20221, said a new report released by the United Nation's Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The report said that since the exit of the American and other multinational coalition forces from Afghanistan up until May 30, 2023, some 1,095 civilians were killed while some 2,679 people were injured.
The majority of these fatalities were the result of improvised explosive devices detonating, including suicide bombings in public places such as mosques, education centres and markets.
Casualties by type of attack.
"It's critical that different authorities uphold their obligation to protect the right to life... [with] independent, impartial, prompt, thorough, effective, credible and transparent investigations into IED attacks affecting civilians," said UNAMA human rights chief.
The report further noted that while the number of violent attacks have fallen, their deadliness has increased, resulting in greater casualties.
There was an increase in attacks on worship places as well under the Taliban.
IED attacks on places of worship caused 1,218 civilian casualties (368 killed, 850 wounded) between August 15, 2021, and February 15, 2023. Among these casualties were four women (one killed, three wounded) and 100 children (39 killed, 61 wounded).
IED attacks on places of worship accounted for more than one third of all civilian casualties recorded during this period, with UNAMA’s figures indicating a significant increase in civilian harm resulting from IED attacks on places of worship compared with prior to the Taliban takeover.
Attacks on worship places in Afghanistan from 2018 to 2023 has shown an increase in activity after the Taliban took over.
"UNAMA's figures highlight not only the ongoing civilian harm resulting from such attacks but an increase in the lethality of suicide attacks since August 15 2021, with a smaller number of attacks causing a greater number of civilian casualties," the report said.
The interim Taliban government, however, noted that the situation had drastically improved during their tenure even as it admitted to having security challenges.
"Security forces of the Islamic Emirate oblige themselves to ensure the security of the citizens and take timely action on uprooting the safe havens of the terrorists," the Taliban's foreign ministry said in response to the UN report.
