UN appeals for increased protection to Afghan civilians

Kabul, May 28 (UNI) The United Nations in Afghanistan today said around 380 civilians died in the first four months this year and called on all parties fighting here to make increased efforts to ensure the protection of innocent civilians.

''In particular, all parties shall avoid, by all necessary means, combat in populated areas, which results in higher civilian casualties,'' the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) stated.

Richard Bennett, chief of human rights for UNAMA today told mediapersons, ''International humanitarian law is clear - the safety of civilians must come first and foremost. This principle needs to be respected by all parties to this conflict, including military forces that are supporting the Afghan Government.'' Announcing the setting up of the first data base on civilian casualties, the UNAMA announced it estimated that there were between 320 to 380 civilian casualties in the first four months in 2007.

''Insurgents and other groups using terrorist tactics must cease the kind of operations which have seen hundreds of civilians being killed in recent months. We also call on the Afghan and international military forces to plan and coordinate their efforts better to ensure the protection of innocent civilians and to enhance the safety and welfare of communities,'' he said.

The UN's step comes following a sharp rise in civilian casualties as a result of military operations. While the deaths of civilians due to suicide bombings and other terrorist operations has also increased, there is growing resentment about the deaths due to operations by international forces.

In most cases involving civilian casualties, the international forces have claimed to have killed a large number of terrorists but subsequent investigations revealed the facts.

NATO and the US-led coalition forces have been under fire for a recent surge in civilian casualties in the nearly 6-year-old war against the Taliban, ousted from government for harbouring al Qaeda in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Recently the US military forces also apologised for the civilian casualties.

The UN said it had stepped up efforts to ensure the protection of civilians by holding consultations with local communities in conflict-affected areas of the country, including Jalalabad, Assadabad, Gardez, Herat and Kandahar. These consultations serve as preparation for a conference which will be held in August later this yaer, it said.

UNI