The number of civilian casualties from the war in Afghanistan remains at a two-year high, said a report by the U.N. on Monday which also described a sharp rise in the number of women killed or injured. The number of deaths increased by 2 percent while injuries dropped by 1 percent compared to the same period last year. Casualties among women rose by 23 percent, while child casualties increased by 1 percent. At 67 percent of the total, the highest number of casualties was caused by anti-government forces, mainly the Taliban. "The human cost of this ugly war in Afghanistan – loss of life, destruction and immense suffering – is far too high," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA.

Source: The China Post July 18, 2017 00:00 UTC