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“The United Nations claims civilian deaths have gone up 31 percent during this year so far. The Taliban and other insurgents are likely responsible for those deaths, topping 2,500.” (Fox News)
That’s Fox news reporting the latest number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan, the highest since the war started nine years ago.
The U.N. reports the majority of killings were from roadside bombings and airstrikes and children took the biggest hit, with deaths up 55 percent.
We’re analyzing coverage from Fox News, Al Jazeera, BBC, The LA Times and ITN.
Al Jazeera puts the numbers in perspective, comparing the deaths of civilians to those of U.S. and coalition troops.
“2010 has been the deadliest for U.S. and coalition forces inside this country since the war began nine years ago. At least 422 foreign troops have been killed by insurgent attacks this year. But if you put that up against U.N. figures, which attributes 2477 civilian casualties to the Taliban and anti-government forces, that means the Taliban have killed or injured about five civilians for every one coalition soldier death.”
A reporter for BBC notes that pro-government forces were responsible for 12 percent of casualties, down from 30 percent in 2009. But he says killing is killing, no matter who’s doing it — and overall figures indicate that things are getting worse in Afghanistan.
“Overall, people don’t feel safer here. In the past nine years of the conflict, these are the worst figures yet in terms of civilian deaths, and when a bomb goes off, the national instinct isn’t to blame it on the Taliban or international forces — it all adds to a growing sense of insecurity here in Afghanistan.”
Insurgents are responsible for nearly three-quarters of the deaths.
The LA Times explains how the Taliban accounts for the rise in fatalities.
“On the one hand, the Taliban routinely claims responsibility for atrocities such as the killing of a Christian charity's 10-member medical team last week, but the insurgents also sometimes contest accounts of cruel punishments meted out to civilians for alleged offenses under Islamic law.”
ITN reports the implications of the figures on the public’s perception of the War in Afghanistan
“These figures are a clear indication that the war is getting more violent. And while insurgents are being blamed, there are fears that this could still undermine NATO’s efforts, as well as increasing public hostility to the U.S.-led mission.”
Just hours after the report was released, suicide bombers killed at least three people in central Kabul.
Get more multi-source news analysis from Newsy.com.
WRITER: Steven Hsieh
PRODUCER: Newsy Staff
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