A newly released U.N. report shows over 10,000 Afghan civilians were killed or injured in armed conflict last year. It brings the total number of civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan to what the U.N. calls a "grim milestone": 100,000 over the past decade.
Just the first six months of 2019 saw 1,300 civilian deaths — the lowest number since 2012. But by the end of the year, the number of deaths had jumped to 3,400. Nearly 900 of those killed were children.
The U.N. says the Taliban was responsible for about 47% of civilian injuries or deaths, while Afghan forces were responsible for about 16%. International Military Forces caused around 8%.
The same day the report was released, U.S. forces and the Taliban in Afghanistan entered a temporary truce. If the seven days of reduced violence holds, the two sides have agreed to meet Saturday to map out a plan to end the war under an agreed timeline for withdrawing U.S. forces.
Contains footage from CNN.
