Dozens of residents of Wardak province held a protest in Kabul city on Tuesday to protest civilian casualties in government forces operations in the central province. 

The residents said they want an end to operations carried out by pro-government forces which result in civilian casualties in the province. 

Some protestors claimed that a recent operation by government forces in Julga district in Wardak killed a number of civilians including children.  

A UN report released on February 24 shows that more civilians were killed in the Afghan conflict last year than any time since records have been kept.

In total, UNAMA documented 10,993 civilian casualties (3,804 deaths and 7,189) wounded), representing a five percent increase in overall civilian casualties and an 11 percent increase in civilian deaths compared with 2017.

In this report, UNAMA attributes the majority of civilian casualties – 63 percent – to anti-government elements (37 percent to Taliban, 20 percent to Daesh, and 6 percent to undetermined anti-government elements).

According to the report, pro-government forces caused 24 percent civilian deaths (14 percent by Afghan national security forces, six percent by international military forces, and four percent by other pro-government armed groups and forces).    

The report says that key factors contributing to the significant increase in civilian casualties were a spike in suicide attacks by anti-government elements, mainly Daesh, as well as increased harm to civilians from aerial and search operations by pro-government forces. 

The report says that 2018 witnessed the highest number of civilian casualties ever recorded from suicide attacks and aerial operations.       

The National Security Advisor’s Office in a statement on Feb. 24 said the Afghan forces are undertaking new strategies to prevent civilian casualties in their operations. 

The statement said that the Afghan forces have always paid thorough attention in preventing civilian casualties.