A/HRC/25/41
including targeted killings, attacks against civilian government workers, abductions and
killings, and high levels of threats and intimidation.
12.
Between 1 January and 30 November 2013, UNAMA documented 90 civilian deaths
and 177 injuries (267 civilian casualties) from explosive remnants of war, a 48 per cent
increase from 2012. Eighty-one per cent of the victims were children. This sharp increase
coincides with an increase in ground engagements between parties to the conflict, making
unexploded ammunition and ordnance more likely to be left behind. A second cause is the
closure of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) bases and firing ranges, many of
which have not been sufficiently cleared of unexploded ordnance prior to their closure.
A.
Anti-Government elements
13.
Seventy-five per cent of all civilian casualties during 2013 were attributed to AGEs,
which includes a range of armed opposition groups, compared with 81 per cent for the same
period in 2012. Between 1 January and 30 November 2013, IEDs and suicide/complex
attacks by AGEs together accounted for 49 per cent of all civilian deaths and injuries.
UNAMA/OHCHR documented a 44 per cent reduction in civilian casualties from pressureplated IEDs, but also noted an 83 per cent increase in civilian deaths and injuries from the
use of remote-controlled IEDs.
14.
Throughout 2013, AGEs continued to target and kill civilians who worked for or
were perceived to support the Government or Afghan and international military forces.
Between 1 January and 30 November, UNAMA/OHCHR documented 740 civilian deaths
and 341 injuries (1,081 civilian casualties) from targeted killings — on a par with the same
period in 2012. In many cases, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the killings on their
website. On 27 November 2013, for example, the Taliban claimed responsibility for
attacking and killing six non-governmental organization staff members in Faryab province.
15.
Deliberate targeting of civilian government institutions by AGEs increased in 2013,
with attacks against civilian government employees, offices, district headquarters and other
civilian government structures documented throughout Afghanistan. UNAMA/OHCHR
documented four attacks against court-houses: in Farah on 3 April, in Kabul on 11 June, in
Marja district in Helmand province on 12 May and in Pashtunkot district of Faryab
province on 23 April, causing 57 civilian deaths and 145 injuries (202 civilian casualties)
including judges, prosecutors, legal and clerical staff. The Taliban claimed responsibility
for the attacks and issued a public statement announcing their intention to target and kill
judges and prosecutors.
16.
UNAMA/OHCHR observed a pattern of threats and attacks by AGEs against
religious leaders and documented 23 incidents in which religious leaders or places of
worship were directly threatened or attacked, resulting in 15 civilian deaths and seven
injuries. The majority of the attacks targeted mullahs performing funeral ceremonies for
deceased members of Afghan security forces and religious figures who expressed public
support for the Government.
B.
Pro-Government forces
17.
In the first 11 months of 2013, UNAMA/OHCHR documented 300 civilian deaths
and 499 injuries (799 civilian casualties) attributed to pro-Government forces, a 43 per cent
increase from 2012. The rise is attributed to an increase in offensive operations and
counter-attacks by ANSF against AGEs in contested areas. These operations also damaged
civilian properties and in some areas displaced civilians on a large scale. For example,
Afghan forces’ operations in Qaysar district, Faryab province, on 18 to 20 November led to
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