Rise in Afghan civilian casualties at hands of government forces
▻http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/17/rise-in-afghan-civilian-casualties-caused-by-pro-government-forces-tali
A report released on Sunday, documenting the first three months of 2016, shows a 70% rise in civilian casualties caused by pro-government forces, with 127 killed and 242 wounded.
A total of 600 civilians were killed and 1,343 injured during that period, a 2% increase in total casualties but a 13% drop in fatalities.
A growing proportion of those civilians are women and children. This year, one-third of civilian casualties have been children, a 29% jump from last year.
As the Guardian reported on Friday, dozens of Afghan schools are used for military purposes, putting children at risk by turning schools into potential targets. At least one, in Helmand, seized by the Afghan army, still had children attending classes.
