Alwaght- Casualties of terrorism and violence have topped 1115 in March 2017, according to casualty figures recorded by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
A total of 548 Iraqi civilians were killed and another 567 were injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict during last month with Ninewa being the most affected Governorate, with 541 casualties (367 killed, 174 injured). Baghdad Governorate followed 84 killed and 246 injured, and Salah al-Din had 38 killed and 69 injured.
According to information obtained by UNAMI from the Health Directorate in Anbar, the Governorate suffered a total of 90 civilian casualties (32 killed and 58 injured).
Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq, Mr. Ján Kubiš, condemned continued deliberate targeting of civilians by the ISIS terrorists and praised the Government of Iraq’s efforts to protect civilians during the fighting in Mosul.
"The terrorists have used every possible wicked way to inflict casualties on civilians. Two car bombs killed or wounded many in the Baghdad area last month. In western Mosul, ISIS terrorists have forcibly transferred civilians, holding them as human shields as they retreated or at strategic locations in densely populated areas. In cases, ISIS has placed civilians in booby-trapped buildings that its terrorists used to launch attacks on government forces, shot at civilians attempting to flee to Iraqi security lines or deliberately shelled civilian areas,” Mr. Kubiš said.
The SRSG said Iraqi Security Forces have spared no effort to protect civilians.
"I welcome the commitment of the Government of Iraq to the protection of civilians in the conduct of military operations and their reiteration that the protection of their citizens is an absolute priority,” Mr. Kubiš said.
