UN mission in Afghanistan finds children bear brunt of war

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Afghan women mourn during the funeral of victims who died from a suicide attack, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, July 24, 2016. Afghanistan held a national day of mourning on Sunday, a day after a suicide bomber killed at least 80 people who were taking part in a peaceful demonstration in Kabul. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group. (AP Photos/Massoud Hossaini)

KABUL, Afghanistan: The United Nations mission in Afghanistan says the number of children killed or wounded in the country’s conflict has surged in the first half of 2016, compared to the same period last year.

UNAMA says in its midyear report, which was released on Monday, that one-third of casualties between January and June were children, with 388 killed and 1,121 wounded. That’s 18 percent more than during the first half of 2015.

The report also says that the total number of civilian casualties in the first half of 2016 rose by 4 percent, to 5,166 — 1,601 killed and 3,565 wounded.

That’s similar to the figures from the previous year, which was particularly bad as Afghan forces took the lead in fighting following the 2014 withdrawal of most international combat troops.

(Sourced from agencies, Feature image courtesy:AP)

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