THE CIVILIAN HUMAN COST OF THE WAR IN 2010

Kabul, 1 February 2011: Armed violence in Afghanistan exceeded record levels in 2010 leaving catastrophic impacts on civilian Afghan communities, read an Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM) annual report on civilian casualties of war in 2010 released today.

From 1 January to 31 December 2010, at least 2,421 civilian Afghans were killed and over 3,270 were injured in conflict-related security incidents across Afghanistan. This means everyday 6-7 noncombatants were killed and 8-9 were wounded in the war.

Armed Opposition Groups (AOGs) were blamed for 63 percent of the total reported civilian deaths); US/NATO forces were accused of 21 percent of the civilian deaths; pro-government Afghan forces (police, army and militias) were accused of 12 percent of the reported deaths; and about 4 percent of the civilian deaths could not be attributed to an identifiable armed group and thus referred to “unknown” in the report.

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were the most lethal tools which killed over 690 civilians and wounded more than 1,800 people. About 237 civilian people lost their lives in the suicide attacks while 406 were assassinated by the AOGs throughout 2010.

At least 217 noncombatants died in air strikes and 192 were killed in direct/indirect shooting by US/NATO forces in 2010. Dozens of civilians were also killed in cross fire and other security incidents involving pro-government Afghan forces.

ARM criticizes the AOGs for their deliberate killing and harassing of civilian communities and the US/NATO for their labeling of almost every war casualty as being “suspected insurgent”.

ARM’s annual report raises concerns about the reemergence of irregular armed groups in some parts of Afghanistan which are used by the Afghan Government and US/NATO forces for different counterinsurgency and counterterrorism purposes. It also highlights concerns about the stockpiles and the possible use of cluster munitions by US/NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Citing the predominant consensus that peace in Afghanistan could not be achieved on the battle fields but in the political corridors, the report states that the existing political structures are extensively corrupt and unreliable to bring about a just and lasting peace.