Summary:
Estimates of the number of civilians killed vary widely and must be treated with caution. Systematic collection of civilian fatality data only began in 2007. The United Nations is creating a civilian casualty database, but is not publicly accessible. Periodic updates can be found in Reports of the Secretary-General on peace and security in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) is also collecting data, but the efforts of both agencies are hampered by insecurity and a lack of resources. As a result, figures released by these agencies likely represent a substantial undercount.
For more information, see also the Monitor's posts on civilian casualties, airstrikes and human rights.
Last updated: October 2009Latest estimate:
- "Total estimate of civilian casualties as a result of fighting between pro-government forces and armed opposition groups (January –July 2009): 1,388." Afghanistan Index: Tracking Variables of Reconstruction & Security in Post-9/11 Afghanistan, Brookings Institution, October 2009
- "Almost three times as many civilian deaths (68 per cent) were attributed to anti-Government elements activities than to pro-Government forces (23 per cent). As detailed in the UNAMA mid-year bulletin on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the most deadly tactics used and which accounted for the largest number of civilian casualties in the conflict to date were attributable to planted improvised explosive devices, and suicide attacks carried out by anti-Government elements accounted for 39.5 per cent of fatalities." The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security (S/2009/475), United Nations Report of the Secretary General, September 2009
- "According to UNAMA’s Human Rights Unit, August 2009 has been the deadliest month for civilians since August 2008, with 308 conflict-related deaths reported of which 281 (91 per cent) were attributed to Armed Opposition Groups (AOGs) and 22 (7 percent) to Pro-Government Forces (PGFs). The remaining casualties could not be attributed to either party to the conflict.
"Suicide and IED incidents accounted for 68 percent of civilian deaths and 74 per cent of deaths attributed to AOGs, the overwhelming majority of which occurred in the South." Humanitarian Update Issue 9 August 2009, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, August 2009
Afghanistan NGO Safety Office (ANSO)
- ANSO Quarterly Data Report (Q.3 2009), 30 September 2009
- ANSO Quarterly Data Report (Q.2 2009), 22 July 2009
- ANSO Quarterly Data Report (Q.1 2009), 10 April 2009
- ANSO Quarterly Data Report (Q.1-2008), 31 March 2008
- About 1,980 civilians were killed in 2007, 19 January 2008
Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC)
- At least 155 civilians killed by fighting, terrorism in September: AIHRC, 12 October 2007
- Afghan Human Rights Watchdog to Track Civilian Casualties, 5 September 2007
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
- US should act to end bombing tragedies, 14 May 2009
- US investigation of airstrike deaths "deeply flawed", 15 January 2009
- Civilian deaths from airstrikes, 7 September 2008
- "Troops in Contact": Airstrikes and civilian deaths in Afghanistan, September 2008
- The Human Cost: The consequences of insurgent attacks in Afghanistan , April 2007
- US should investigate civilian deaths, 6 March 2007
United Nations
2009
- Afghanistan: Mid Year Bulletin on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, 2009, United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan, 39 July 2009
- Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict 2008, United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan, 17 February 2009
2008
- "The trend in insurgency tactics observed in 2007 — from armed clashes with security forces to attacks of an asymmetric nature — continued and became more pronounced in 2008, leading to a sharp increase in the number of civilian casualties. Of the more than 3,800 lives lost in insurgency-related violence by the end of July, over one third were civilians." The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security (A/63/372-S/2008/617), United Nations Report of the Secretary General, 23 September 2008
- Armed Conflict and Civilian Casualties, Afghanistan
Trends and Developments 1 January – 31 August 2008, UNAMA, 10 September 2008
- Statement by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, on Reports of Civilian Casualties in Western Afghanistan, UNAMA, 23 August 2008
- "Of over 8,000 conflict-related fatalities in 2007, over 1,500 were civilians." Report of the Secretary-General (A/62/722- S/2008/159) March 2008
2007
- Over 1,000 Afghan Civilians Killed Since April: Interior Ministry, 16 August 2007
- "Over 1,000 civilian deaths from January to 31 August 2007." New U.N. Report Highlights Widespread Corruption, Insecurity, 27 September 2007
- Rate of Civilian Casualties in Afghanistan 'Alarming': UN, 20 November 2007
Government of Canada, Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
- "Getting figures for the number of Afghan civilian casualties is difficult. It is conceivable that some Afghan families don't report deaths for fear of reprisals, or because there simply isnt a system of recording these kinds of casualties in more remote areas. Nevertheless, the Government of Canada should make every effort to prepare these kinds of estimates on a regular basis, and to be open about how the information is collected, and how reliable it is likely to be." How Are We Doing in Afghanistan? Canadians Need to Know, 10 June 2008
Further reading
- Country Indicators for Foreign Policy: Fragile States Country Report: Afghanistan, Carleton University, 3 March 2009
- Civilians and the International Security Strategy, Action Aid // Afghan AID // CARE Afghanistan et al, 3 April 2009
Media Reports
2009
- Military: US airstrikes likely killed 26 civilians, The Associated Press, 19 June 2009
- UN: 2,100 civilians killed in 2008, Reuters, 3 February 2009
- NATO-led troops killed around 100 civilians in 2008, China View, 28 January 2009
- Afghan unrest killed 4,000 civilians in 2008: Report, AFP, 21 January 2009
2008
- UN chief in Afghanistan: Protect civilians, The Associated Press, 17 December 2008
- Afghanistan: Civilian casualties from anti-insurgency conflict mount, IRIN News, 25 August 2008
- Alarm over Afghan civilian deaths, BBC News, 9 July 2008
Death estimates: 2008: ~900 - Stephen Graham, Afghan civilian deaths up 60 per cent, The Globe and Mail, 29 June 2008
- Afghanistan: Civilians suffer the brunt of rising suicide attacks, Amnesty International, 5 June 2008
- Paul Koring, The ugly truth in Afghanistan, The Globe and Mail, 1 March 2008
Death estimates: 2007: ~6,500; 2006: ~4,000; 2005: ~1,000
2007
- Aryn Baker, Backlash from Afghan civilian deaths, TIME Magazine, 23 June 2007
- Carlota Gall and David E. Sanger, Afghan civilian deaths damaging NATO, International Herald Tribune, 13 May 2007
Scholars
- Chernus, Ira (Centre for Research on Globalization / University of Colorado)
- Civilian Casualties in Afghanistan: No Coincidence, 23 September 2007
- Herold, Marc (University of New Hampshire)
