Iraqi civilian casualty figures remain ‘disappointing’: UN
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Sixty-nine Iraqi civilians were killed and 142 injured in acts of terrorism in December, the UN stated on Tuesday.
“Casualty figures for the month of December 2017 have remained at a similar level to November, which is disappointing,” said the UN’s representative to Iraq Jan Kubis.
Baghdad had the highest numbers, with 24 civilians killed and 98 injured.
Kirkuk saw civilian casualties for the third month in a row with 15 civilians killed and 6 injured.
According to the UN’s office in Iraq (UNAMI), 3,298 civilians were killed in Iraq in 2017 and 4,781 were injured. These figures exclude numbers from Anbar for November and December, “which are not available.”
“I very much hope that, as we move in the new year, these figures will fall rapidly as much-needed peace and stability return to Iraq,” Kubis stated.
In early December, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over ISIS as Iraqi forces retook the last territory from the terrorist group.
ISIS has remained a danger in the country, however. The coalition confirmed in late December that ISIS had a presence in the Hamrin Mountains and Hawija, describing the group as “an adaptive and patient enemy.”
“Casualty figures for the month of December 2017 have remained at a similar level to November, which is disappointing,” said the UN’s representative to Iraq Jan Kubis.
Baghdad had the highest numbers, with 24 civilians killed and 98 injured.
Kirkuk saw civilian casualties for the third month in a row with 15 civilians killed and 6 injured.
According to the UN’s office in Iraq (UNAMI), 3,298 civilians were killed in Iraq in 2017 and 4,781 were injured. These figures exclude numbers from Anbar for November and December, “which are not available.”
“I very much hope that, as we move in the new year, these figures will fall rapidly as much-needed peace and stability return to Iraq,” Kubis stated.
In early December, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over ISIS as Iraqi forces retook the last territory from the terrorist group.
ISIS has remained a danger in the country, however. The coalition confirmed in late December that ISIS had a presence in the Hamrin Mountains and Hawija, describing the group as “an adaptive and patient enemy.”