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In Afghanistan sterben mehr Zivilisten

UNO-Bericht verzeichnet deutlichen Anstieg *

Nach einem Rückgang im vergangenen Jahr ist die Zahl der zivilen Opfer im Afghanistankrieg im ersten Halbjahr 2013 wieder deutlich angestiegen. Bis Ende Juni seien 1319 Zivilisten getötet worden, 14 Prozent mehr als im Vorjahreszeitraum, teilte die Mission der Vereinten Nationen (Unama) am Mittwoch in Kabul mit. 2533 Unbeteiligte seien verletzt worden (plus 28 Prozent).

Unamas Menschenrechtsdirektorin Georgette Gagnon nannte die stark gestiegene Zahl der Opfer unter Frauen und Kindern »besonders beunruhigend«. 106 Frauen seien getötet und 241 verletzt worden, teilte die Mission mit. Das sei ein Anstieg um 61 Prozent. Die meisten der weiblichen Opfer seien bei Bodengefechten ins Kreuzfeuer geraten. 231 Kinder seien vor allem bei der Explosion von Sprengsätzen ums Leben gekommen, 529 seien verletzt worden – 30 Prozent mehr als im Vorjahreszeitraum. Zivile Regierungsmitarbeiter, die von den Aufständischen gezielt angegriffen werden, hätten 76 Prozent mehr Opfer zu beklagen: Bei 103 solcher Angriffe seien 114 Menschen getötet und 324 verletzt worden.

Für 74 Prozent aller Toten und Verletzten machte Unama Aufständische wie die Taliban verantwortlich, für neun Prozent die ausländischen und afghanischen Sicherheitskräfte. Zwölf Prozent seien bei Gefechten zwischen die Konfliktparteien geraten. Der Rest habe nicht eindeutig zugeordnet werden können.

Die Schutztruppe ISAF wertete den Bericht als Beleg dafür, dass die Taliban keinen Respekt vor menschlichem Leben und für den Schutz von Zivilisten zeigten.

* Aus: neues deutschland, Donnerstag, 1. August 2013


Tabelle:

Getötete und verletzte Zivilpersonen in Afghanistan 2009-2013

(jeweils Januar bis Juni)

Jahr Tote Verletzte
2009 1052 1439
2010 1281 1990
2011 1575 2341
2012 1158 1976
2013 1319 2533

AGF-Tabelle auf der Grundlage von: UNAMA-United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, AFGHANISTAN. MID-YEAR REPORT 2013. PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT, Kabul, Afghanistan, July 2013, S. 3


Afghan conflict takes increasing toll on civilians in first half of 2013 – UN report

31 July 2013 – The number of Afghan civilians killed or injured in the first half of 2013 rose by 23 per cent compared to the same period last year, owing mainly to the increased use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by insurgents, according to a United Nations report released today.

The mid-year report on the protection of civilians, produced by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), documented 1,319 civilian deaths and 2,533 injuries – a total of 3,852 civilian casualties – in the first half of 2013.

This marks an increase of 14 per cent in deaths and 28 per cent in injuries over the same period in 2012, the Mission stated in a news release. The increase reverses the decline recorded in 2012, and marks a return to the high numbers of civilian deaths and injuries documented in 2011.

“The violent impact of the conflict on Afghan civilians marked by the return of rising civilian casualties in 2013 demands even greater commitment and further efforts by parties to the conflict to protect civilians who are increasingly being killed and injured in the crossfire,” said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš.

“The increase in the indiscriminate use of IEDs and the deliberate targeting of civilians by anti-Government elements is particularly alarming and must stop,” he added.

The second biggest cause of civilian deaths and injuries were “ground engagements” between Afghan security forces and anti-Government elements, which UNAMA said poses an increasing threat to Afghan children, women and men.

“The growing loss of life and injuries to Afghan women and children in 2013 is particularly disturbing,” said UNAMA’s Director of Human Rights, Georgette Gagnon. “Deaths and injuries to women and children increased by 38 per cent in the first half of 2013 reflecting a grim reality of the conflict today in Afghanistan.”

Between 1 January and 30 June 2013, UNAMA documented the deaths of 337 women and children and injuries to 770 others.

In the same time period, the report found that anti-Government elements caused 74 per cent of all civilian casualties and pro-Government forces caused 9 per cent, while 12 per cent were unattributed and resulted from ground engagements between those two groups and the remaining five per cent were unattributed, resulting mostly from unexploded ordnance.

“Rising civilian casualties in the first half of 2013 paints a frightening picture for Afghan people – and drives home the need for parties engaged in military operations to fully comply with their legal obligations to protect civilians and prevent civilian casualties,” added Ms. Gagnon.

Speaking at the launch of the report in Kabul, Ms. Gagnon stressed that the violent impact of the conflict on Afghan civilians – marked by the return of rising civilian casualties in 2013 – “demands even greater commitments and further efforts by all parties to the conflict to protect civilians who are increasingly being killed and injured in the crossfire.”

The Mission reiterated its call on anti-government elements to cease the deliberate targeting and killing of civilians and withdraw orders that permit attacks and killings of civilians, in particular, religious personnel, judicial authorities and all civilian government workers.

“UNAMA urges all parties to the conflict to exercise constant care to protect civilians from the dangers of military operations and to take all feasible measures to avoid and minimize incidental loss of civilian life and injury,” said Ms. Gagnon.

Source: UN News Centre, 31 July 2013; http://www.un.org


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