THE United Nations said today it has documented a significant number of civilians killed and wounded in attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover despite a stark reduction in casualties compared with previous years of war and insurgency.

According to a new report by the UN mission in Afghanistan (Unama), since the takeover in mid-August 2021 until the end of May there have been 3,774 civilian casualties, including 1,095 people killed in violence in the country.

That compares with 8,820 civilian casualties, including 3,035 killed, in just 2020, according to an earlier UN report. 

The Taliban seized the country in August 2021 as United States and Nato troops withdrew after two decades of war.

According to the UN report, three quarters of the attacks since the Taliban seized power were with improvised explosive devices (IED) in populated areas, including places of worship, schools and markets. Among those killed were 92 women and 287 children.

The figures indicate a significant increase in civilian harm resulting from bomb attacks on places of worship compared to the three-year period prior to the Taliban takeover, the UN said.

At least 95 people were killed in attacks on schools, educational facilities and other places that targeted the predominantly Shi’ite Hazara community.

The UN said that the majority of the IED attacks were carried out by the region’s Isis affiliate: the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, a Sunni militant group and a main Taliban rival.

Fiona Frazer, chief of Unama’s human rights service, urged the Taliban to uphold their obligation to protect the right to life of the Afghan people.