UN: 100,000 Civilian Casualties in Afghan Since 2009

The United Nations says the war in Afghanistan has resulted in more than 100,000 civilian¹ casualties in the past ten years.

The international body is asking all sides to take steps to end the 18-year conflict.

The announcement comes as Taliban insurgents³ struck Thursday in the northern province of Balkh and reportedly killed at least 10 Afghan soldiers.

Tadamichi Yamamoto is the head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). He said in a statement that the war continues to be deadly for civilians⁴.

"I recognize with extreme sadness that civilian casualties recently surpassed 100,000 in the past 10 years alone, from the time the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) began (recording) civilian casualties in 2009 to the present," said Yamamoto.

He asked all parties in the conflict to find ways to reduce levels of violence to prevent civilian casualties. He also said it will help create an environment that will assist efforts to find a political settlement to the war.

Yamamoto said that talks involving Afghans, which include women and young people, are "essential" for the peace process.

The Afghan Defense⁵ Ministry⁶ said Thursday's insurgent² attack in Balkh targeted a military base. It confirmed the deaths of six soldiers and said three others were wounded.

In a statement, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the attack in Balkh began with a suicide car bombing. Then, a group of insurgents attacked and captured a military base. He said the fighting left 12 Afghan soldiers dead and eight others wounded although insurgents often make inflated⁷ claims.

On Monday, Taliban insurgents also attacked an army base in another part of Balkh, killing⁸ at least 15 Afghan soldiers and wounding several others.

The number of battlefield attacks in northern Afghan provinces has grown recently. Usually, violence lessens⁹ at this time of year because of difficult weather conditions.

Also on Monday, a roadside bomb set by the Taliban exploded near a U.S. and Afghan military convoy¹⁰ in northern Kunduz province. An American soldier and an Afghan soldier were killed.

Insurgent attacks have killed about 50,000 Afghan soldiers since late 2014, Afghan officials said.

Peace talks

The United States is trying to negotiate an agreement with the Taliban to end the war. U.S. officials are pressing Taliban negotiators to reduce violence and enter into talks with other groups in Afghanistan.

The Taliban is demanding that the U.S. sign an agreement on the withdrawal¹¹ of all U.S. and allied¹² troops from Afghanistan. The group says only then will it agree to a nationwide cease-fire and to the further talks.

Words in This Story

casualty– n. an individual killed or wounded in a conflict

insurgent– n. a rebel or revolutionary fighter

surpass– v. to overtake, go beyond

convoy– n. a group of vehicles that are traveling together usually for protection

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

3 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

4 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

7 inflated   

adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨

参考例句：

• He has an inflated sense of his own importance. 他自视过高。
• They all seem to take an inflated view of their collective identity. 他们对自己的集体身份似乎都持有一种夸大的看法。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

9 lessens   

变少( lessen的第三人称单数 )； 减少（某事物）

参考例句：

• Eating a good diet significantly lessens the risk of heart disease. 良好的饮食习惯能大大减少患心脏病的机率。
• Alcohol lessens resistance to diseases. 含有酒精的饮料会减弱对疾病的抵抗力。

10 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

11 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

12 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。