Civilian casualties in Afghanistan rising

12 July NDK News

The United Nations says the number of civilians killed in Afghanistan is increasing as international troops are preparing to leave the country.

The UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan said in a report on Wednesday that 1,564 civilians died in fighting and terrorist attacks in the first 6 months of this year.That's up by 17 percent compared to the figure for the same period of last year.Total civilian injuries during the past 6 months rose by 28 percent from the number a year earlier to 3,289.

The number of people killed or wounded as a result of being caught in crossfire was about 1,900, or 39 percent of the total civilian casualties.The figure surpassed the number of those killed or wounded in bomb attacks the major cause of death and injury before.

Total child casualties more than doubled from a year earlier to 520.In Afghanistan, the majority of foreign troops are scheduled to leave by the end of this year.

The UN organization says anti-government militants are stepping up attacks as bases of foreign troops close and security functions get transferred to Afghan control.