Civilian Deaths at Record High in Afghanistan in 2009

2 years ago

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Washington Reporter

The United Nations says civilian deaths in Afghanistan reached a record high last year, despite a 30 percent drop in killings attributed to allied troops, the Associated Press reports. Some surveys show Afghan civilians now blaming the Taliban and other insurgents, rather than the United States, for the death toll, though it is difficult to get an accurate reading of opinion in the country.

The U.N. said 2,412 civilians were killed in 2009 -- a 14 percent increase over the 2,118 who died in 2008. Nearly 70 percent of civilian deaths last year, or 1,630, were attributed to the insurgents.

Reducing the number of civilian deaths caused by NATO and U.S. forces has been a key part of Gen. Stanley McChrystal's strategy for winning over the Afghan people, who have been outraged by the violence the past few years. Allied forces were responsible for 25 percent of the civilian deaths in 2009, down from 39 percent the year before.

Filed Under: Afghanistan

Tagged: afghanistan, afghanistan war, afghanistantroops, AfghanistanWar, daily guidance, DailyGuidance

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