Improvised explosive device effects on civilians

According to a report issued this morning by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s Human Rights Service, improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, continue to be a major worry in Afghanistan, with a spike in assaults against houses of worship and targeting the Hazara minority group.

The report records 3,774 civilian fatalities between 15 August 2021 and 30 May 2023, despite the fact that there has been a general drop in civilian mortality since the Taliban took control. IEDs that were deployed carelessly in populous locations, including as marketplaces, schools, and houses of worship, were responsible for three-quarters of those casualties.

The self-described “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province,” or ISIL-KP, is said to have greatly increased the number of civilian deaths as a consequence of IED assaults in the immediate wake of the Taliban takeover on August 15, 2021, according to the study. The main factor contributing to civilian suffering from IEDs was suicide strikes, which were carried out by ISIL-KP as well as other players.

Attacks on people and civilian-owned property are abhorrent and must end. By conducting independent, impartial, fast, comprehensive, effective, credible, and transparent investigations into IED assaults that cause injury to people, the de facto authorities must respect their responsibility to defend the right to life.

In addition, according to UNAMA’s statistics, there has been a marked rise in the damage done to civilians as a consequence of IED strikes on houses of worship during the three years previous to the Taliban rule. More than one-third of all civilian injuries reported during the reporting period were caused by IED assaults on places of worship, mostly Shia Muslim sites.

at addition to assaults on Shia places of worship, the study said that attacks on the mostly Shia Muslim Hazara minority at schools and other educational facilities, on crowded streets, and on public transit resulted in at least 345 (95 dead, 250 injured) victims.

The report urges the de facto authorities to take immediate protective action to stop similar attacks from happening again, taking into account the unique threats and vulnerabilities present in Hazara Shi’a communities, educational institutions, and places of worship.

The current humanitarian situation in Afghanistan serves as a background for the continuous assaults. Prior to August 15, 2021, it was difficult for victims of armed conflict and violence to get the crucial medical, financial, and emotional help they needed. The lack of financing for essential services has made it even more difficult for victims of violence to get assistance.