Afghanistan: UN mission condemns deadly attack resulting in civilian deaths

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has condemned yesterday’s attack in the south-eastern province of Ghazni that killed 19 civilians travelling on a mini bus.

Sixteen women and children were among those killed when the improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in Andar district. Another four women suffered serious injuries, according to a statement issued by the mission.

“Yesterday’s tragic event again highlights the increasing toll that IEDs are taking on civilians in Afghanistan,” said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš. “Indiscriminate use of these weapons must stop.”

The mission extended its condolences to the families of those killed in the attack and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured.

IEDs kill and injure more Afghan civilians than any other tactic in the country’s armed conflict, the mission noted. From 1 January to 27 October 2013, IEDs killed 828 civilians and injured 1,627 – accounting for more than a third of all civilian casualties in the conflict so far this year.

UNAMA emphasized that the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of IEDs may amount to war crimes.