UN Report: 2,798 Afghan Civilians Killed in 2018, Up 39%

The United Nations in a report Wednesday, disclosed that the number of Afghans killed by airstrikes has risen by 39 percent over the first nine months of 2018.

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United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) revealed that 2,798 Afghan civilians died since 2018 began, while another 5,252 were wounded.

UNAMA explained that "attacks deliberately targeting civilians and the murder of civilians are serious violations of international humanitarian law that amount to war crimes."

UNAMA, which began keeping records in 2009, shows that air attacks have claimed the lives of, or wounded, some 649 people in Afghanistan, an AFP report says. The figure represents eight percent of overall casualties for the January to September period and exceeds any full-year period.

The high number of deaths is a result of increased aerial bombardments by the United States and Afghan forces. The United States is the only foreign force known to carry out air strikes in Afghanistan.

The Taliban is responsible for 35 percent of the attacks and the Islamic State 25 percent, according to UNAMA statistics.

International forces accounted for 51 percent of the civilian casualties caused by airstrikes, the report stated, adding that Afghan forces made up 38 percent.

Campaigning and registration for Afghanistan's upcoming parliamentary elections on Oct. 20, have been plagued by numerous suicide bombing attacks which led to the deaths of multiple candidates.

Suicide and non-suicide improvised explosive devices are identified as the leading causes of civilian casualties.