Civilian and overall casualties .282009.29 Civilian casualties in the war in Afghanistan (2001–present)

victims of narang night raid killed @ least 10 afghan civilians, including 8 schoolchildren.

2009 again lethal year afghan civilians in american-led war since fall of taliban government in late 2001. according un assistance mission in afghanistan (unama), 2,412 civilians killed war in 2009, jump of 14% on number lost lives in 2008. additional 3,566 afghan civilians wounded result of war in 2009. of these, unama attributed two-thirds, or 1,630, of deaths action of anti-government forces, around quarter, 596, of deaths action american-led military forces, , not able attribute 186 civilian deaths 1 side. airstrikes continued main cause of civilian deaths resulting us-led military action, 359 afghan civilians killed us/nato airstrikes in 2009. in mid-year report, unama underlined if non-combatant status of 1 or more victim(s) remains under significant doubt, such deaths not included in overall number of civilian casualties. thus, there significant possibility unama under-reporting civilian casualties.

on 11 may 2009, u.s. secretary of defense robert gates replaced mckiernan general mcchrystal new u.s. commander of foreign military forces in afghanistan. 1 of general mcchrystal s first announcements sharp restriction on use of airstrikes reduce civilian casualties. afghan leaders have long pleaded foreign troops end airstrikes , nighttime raids of afghan homes. consequently, effective 2 july 2009, coalition air , ground combat operations ordered take steps minimize afghan civilian casualties in accordance tactical directive issued general stanley a. mcchrystal, usa, commander of international security assistance force in afghanistan. in addition growing number of afghan civilians being killed, afghan populations caught in eight-year war have suffered loss of livelihood, displacement, , destruction of homes, property, , personal assets. issue of civilian casualties recognized problem @ highest levels of isaf command. in september 2009 report, general mcchrystal wrote civilian casualties , collateral damage homes , property resulting over-reliance on firepower , force protection have severely damaged isaf s legitimacy in eyes of afghan people.

in september 2009, u.n. reported august had been deadliest month of 2009 date afghan civilians result of august 20th election. u.n. reported 1,500 people killed start of year through august. report stated: august (was) deadliest month since beginning of 2009. ... these figures reflect increasing trend in insecurity on recent months , in elections-related violence. un assistance mission in afghanistan (unama) attributed 68% of deaths anti-government elements , 23% of deaths international-led military forces – of them in airstrikes. in 9% of civilian deaths, unama unable attribute cause 1 side of parties in conflict. number of civilians killed represented increase of 31% on same period in 2008, when 1,145 civilians killed.