UN condemns Afghan bomb attack killing civilians

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday condemned the killing of several Afghan civilians n an improvised explosive device blast.

The roadside bomb in the Obeh district of the western province of Herat. According to the UN, at least 18 civilians were killed, including eight women, eight children and two men. However, local media placed the death toll at 22.

In addition, six children were also wounded in the explosion that took place on Tuesday following an armed clash between Afghan security forces and anti-Government elements.

The UN Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative in Afghanistan, Nicholas Haysom, said he was "deeply disturbed at the continued killing of Afghan civilians by improvised explosive devices."

Haysom, who is also acting head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), reiterated the call made on all parties to the conflict, issued earlier this week, to respect the sanctity of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, and avoid actions which could harm civilians.

UNAMA emphasized that the use of such tactics, which fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants, is a violation of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes.

The security environment for Afghan civilians has worsened this year, with a 24 percent rise in the number of civilians killed and injured between January and June, compared to the same period in 2012, according to UNAMA.

According to UNAMA, 3,092 civilians were killed or wounded in the Afghan conflict between January 1 and June 6 of the current year.

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