Afghanistan: Mounting civilian death toll

From Amnesty International USA

Afghanistan: Mounting civilian death toll -- all sides must do more to protect civilians

Amnesty International is increasingly concerned at the escalating numbers of Afghan civilians killed and injured in the ongoing armed conflict in Afghanistan. In recent weeks scores of civilians have been killed during aerial and land attacks against Taleban insurgency by US, NATO and Afghan forces. Scores of civilians have also been killed in indiscriminate suicide attacks launched by Taleban insurgents, as well as in attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) such as roadside bombs. Amnesty International is also concerned at reports that the Taleban are using human shields to escape attack. Attacks by both sides have resulted in deaths of women and children.

For the full statement go here

Mercenaries taking heavy casualties in Iraq

Private security companies (i.e. mercenaries), have played a major role in the Iraq war. An article in the Washington Post yesterday describes their widening involement and the resulting increase in under-reported or un-reported casualties.

From the Washington Post

BAGHDAD -- Private security companies, funded by billions of dollars in U.S. military and State Department contracts, are fighting insurgents on a widening scale in Iraq, enduring daily attacks, returning fire and taking hundreds of casualties that have been underreported and sometimes concealed, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials and company representatives.

A partial list of contractor casualties is maintained here by Coalition casualty Count.

ICRC Provides Update on Afghanistan Conflict

The increasing toll of the Afghan war on all sides is rarely reported with any balance by western media, partly due to the failure of UK and USA military to provide credible information on their activities and the resulting casualties, either combatant or civillian.

Today the ICRC release their latest assessment of the spreading and intensifying conflict.

"Civilians suffer horribly from mounting threats to their security, such as increasing numbers of roadside bombs and suicide attacks, and regular aerial bombing raids. They also lack access to basic services. It is incredibly difficult for ordinary Afghans to lead a normal life.”

Since 2006 the conflict pitting Afghan and international forces against the armed opposition has significantly intensified in the south and east of the country and is spreading to the north and west. The result has been a growing number of civilian casualties.

In an ever-more polarized context such as Afghanistan, it has become increasingly challenging to carry out humanitarian work outside major cities. The ICRC maintains a structured and transparent dialogue with all parties to the conflict - the Afghan authorities, international forces and the armed opposition - to promote acceptance of and respect for its independent and neutral humanitarian action and to obtain better security guarantees and access to conflict victims throughout the country.

According to Krähenbühl, “there has been a steady deterioration of medical services in Afghanistan’s remote areas, where important needs are still unmet. The civilians most in need are also the most difficult to reach.”

While development work is crucial to the future of Afghanistan, the persistence of armed conflict means that many civilians remain in dire need of emergency assistance. Against this worrying backdrop, the ICRC and the Afghan Red Crescent Society are stepping up their efforts to protect and assist the most vulnerable, in particular by actively helping local medical facilities to cope with the increasing number of war-wounded in the south and east. In addition, the ICRC is visiting more and more persons detained by the Afghan authorities or international forces in connection with the armed conflict - 2,424 over the past year - in order to ensure that they are being treated humanely and in accordance with international law.

In the south of the country, where armed hostilities regularly occur, the local population is suffering greatly. Thousands of people have fled their homes and are continuing to move in search of safer areas. The general lack of security affects people living in rural and urban areas alike."

Their full press release and interview can be read here

See also: NATO must prevent Afghan civilian casualties-ICRC

150 Dead British Soldiers in Iraq

From BBC Online

The British soldier who became the 150th member of the UK armed forces to die in Iraq since the 2003 invasion has been named as Corporal Rodney Wilson.

The 30-year-old who was from A Company, 4th Battalion The Rifles, died on Thursday in the early hours. He had been part of a patrol conducting a search-and-detention operation.

After being shot by small arms fire, he was flown by helicopter to the field hospital in the British base at Basra Air Station but died from his injuries.