At least 3,812 Afghan civilians were killed or wounded in the first half of 2019 in the war against Islamist militant groups, including a large increase in the number of casualties caused by government and NATO-led troops, a U.N. report said on Tuesday.
The latest casualty figures were released as talks between the Taliban and U.S officials to end the 18-year Afghan war entered an important stage, with U.S. negotiators aiming to reach a peace deal before Sept. 1.
However, the war has raged on despite such diplomatic efforts, forcing civilians to live under the constant threat of being targeted by militants or being caught up in ground fighting, or becoming inadvertent victims of air strikes by Afghan government and NATO-led forces.
Taliban and Islamic State fighters killed 531 Afghans and wounded 1,437 between Jan. 1 and June 30. The hardline Islamist groups deliberately targeted 985 civilians, including government officials, tribal elders, aid workers, and religious scholars, the UNAMA report said.
It said pro-government forces killed 717 Afghans and wounded 680 in the six months to June 30, a 31% increase from the corresponding period in 2018.
At least 144 women and 327 children were killed and more than 1,000 wounded across the country. Air strikes caused 519 civilian casualties, 150 of whom were children.
(REUTERS)
The number of Buddhist monks who were killed following the accident at the Na Uyana Theravada Buddhist Monastery (Na Uyana Aranya Senansenaya) in Pansiyagama, Melsiripura, Kurunegala currently stands at nine , with four injured, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Prof. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi told Parliament this morning. He revealed that two of the injured Buddhist monks are being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU
Several shops were damaged in a major fire that broke out in a shop on the third floor of a building at First Cross Street in Pettah, Colombo, today evening.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, said that both inequality and poverty ought to be regarded as a worldwide catastrophe that requires urgent attention.
The opposition has renewed its demand for a long delayed forensic audit into the controversial e-visa deal, following the sentencing of former Controller General of Immigration, Harsha Ilukpitiya, for contempt of court.
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