Kabul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - 2014 was the worst year for civilian deaths in the recent histiry of Afghanistan. According to UN figures a total of 3,699 people were killed and 6,849 were injured. For the first time, the clashes between Taliban and government forces have killed more people than bombs.
Compared to 2009, the year in which the UN started recording the death toll, the number of victims has increased by 22%. In these five years, official United Nations data speaks of almost 18 thousand dead and 30 thousand wounded.
In late December the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat operations ended in Afghanistan, after 13 years.
The fighting between government forces and the Taliban have caused more than a third of the civilian casualties, while bombs were responsible for 28% of deaths and injuries among the population.
This intensification in fighting is confirmed by the latest figures published by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In 2014, the association transported 37% more wounded from the battlefield to the health centers, and recovered more than double the number of bodies.
In December 2014 alone, the UN registered more than 500 civilian casualties, killed in a series of Taliban attacks against foreign troops. The Taliban have denied being responsible for such a high number of deaths.
