UN: 100,000 civilians casualties in Afghanistan in 10 years

A United Nations report says Afghanistan passed a grim milestone with more than 100,000 civilians killed or hurt in the last 10 years since the international body began documenting casualties in a war that has raged for 18 years.

The report released Saturday by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan comes as a seven-day "reduction of violence" agreement between the US and Taliban takes effect, paving the way for a February 29 signing of a peace deal Washington hopes will end its longest war, bring home US troops and start warring Afghans negotiating the future of their country.

Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence, said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan.

"It is absolutely imperative for all parties to seize the moment to stop the fighting, as peace is long overdue; civilian lives must be protected and efforts for peace are underway."
"Belligerents must take the necessary measures to prevent women, men, boys and girls from being killed by bombs, shells, rockets and improvised mines; to do otherwise is unacceptable."