The Human Toll Of The Us Invasion Of Afghanistan: Counting The Civilian Dead

The US invasion of Afghanistan has resulted in a devastating loss of civilian life. While there is no single official figure for the number of civilian deaths since the start of the war in 2001, estimates range from 46,319 to 70,000. The true death toll is likely even higher due to indirect causes such as disease, malnutrition, and lack of access to food and water. The war has also left deep scars on Afghan society, with high rates of mental health issues, poverty, and environmental degradation. The conflict has destroyed livelihoods, displaced families, and orphaned children. The full extent of the human cost may never be truly known, but it is clear that the impact of the US invasion has been profound and devastating for the people of Afghanistan.

Civilian deaths caused by US-led military actions

The US-led war in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on the country, causing widespread destruction and impoverishment. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of an estimated 46,319 civilians, although this figure is likely a significant underestimation. The war has also left millions displaced, facing food insecurity, malnutrition, and a lack of access to healthcare and clean drinking water.

The US military's actions have directly contributed to civilian casualties in Afghanistan. In 2017, the US military relaxed its rules of engagement for airstrikes, resulting in a 330% increase in civilian deaths from the last year of the Obama administration to the final recorded year of the Trump administration. The use of airstrikes and ground invasions has had devastating consequences, with estimates suggesting that thousands of civilians were killed in the initial months of the war.

The US has also armed and funded Afghan militia groups, who have been implicated in serious human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killings of civilians. Additionally, the contamination of Afghan land with unexploded ordnance and landmines has led to civilian deaths and injuries, particularly among children.

The war in Afghanistan has exacerbated existing issues such as poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, and environmental degradation. It has also taken a toll on the mental health of Afghans, with two-thirds suffering from mental health problems according to a 2009 report by the Afghan Ministry of Public Health.

The true extent of civilian deaths caused by US-led military actions may never be fully known, as there is no single official figure. However, various organizations have provided estimates for specific years or periods. For example, the Project on Defense Alternatives estimated that at least 1,000-1,300 civilians were directly killed by US-led airstrikes between October 7, 2001, and January 1, 2002. Professor Marc W. Herold of the University of New Hampshire estimated that between 3,100 and 3,600 civilians were directly killed by US-led forces between October 7, 2001, and June 3, 2003.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has reported on civilian casualties over the years, attributing the majority of deaths to anti-government elements such as the Taliban. However, a significant number of civilian deaths have also been caused by US-led military forces. For instance, in 2008, UNAMA reported that 828 Afghan civilians were killed by international-led military forces, with 64% of those deaths occurring due to US/NATO airstrikes.

The issue of civilian casualties has been a persistent concern throughout the war, with Afghan President Hamid Karzai repeatedly pleading with US and NATO forces to avoid civilian deaths in their operations. Protests against civilian deaths caused by international forces have also occurred, with Afghans expressing their outrage and calling for an end to the killing of innocent people.

Civilian deaths caused by insurgent actions

The war in Afghanistan, launched by the United States as "Operation Enduring Freedom" in 2001, has resulted in a significant number of civilian casualties. While there is no single official figure for the overall number of civilian deaths since the US invasion, various organisations have provided estimates for specific years or periods. Here are some details on civilian deaths caused by insurgent actions:

• The Costs of War Project estimated that the war in Afghanistan killed approximately 176,000 people, including 46,319 civilians. However, this figure is likely an underestimation as it does not account for deaths due to indirect consequences of the war, such as disease and lack of access to food and water.
• Human Rights Watch reported that at least 699 Afghan civilians were killed by various insurgent forces in 2006.
• The Afghanistan Rights Monitor, a Kabul-based watchdog, estimated that insurgents killed over 2,300 civilians in 2008, including 930 in suicide bombings.
• According to the United Nations, anti-government elements were responsible for a significant proportion of civilian casualties in Afghanistan, ranging from 61% to 80% in different years.
• The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that 1,160 Afghan civilians were killed by anti-government forces in 2008, accounting for 55% of civilian deaths that year.
• The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) estimated that around 1,000 civilians were killed by militant groups in 2008.
• UNAMA attributed 1,630 Afghan civilian deaths to anti-government elements in 2009, representing two-thirds of the total civilian deaths recorded that year.
• In 2010, UNAMA and AIHRC attributed 2,080 civilian deaths to anti-government elements, a 28% increase from the previous year.
• Professor Marc W. Herold of the University of New Hampshire provided extensive research on civilian casualties. He estimated that between 5,700 and 6,500 Afghan civilians had been killed by US and NATO forces from 2001 to 2007.
• The Project on Defense Alternatives estimated that at least 1,000-1,300 civilians were directly killed by the US-led aerial bombing campaign in the first three months of the war (October 7, 2001, to January 1, 2002).
• The Los Angeles Times reported between 1,067 and 1,201 civilian deaths from the bombing campaign in the first five months of the war (October 7, 2001, to February 28, 2002).
• The Guardian suggested that up to 20,000 Afghans may have died in 2001 as an indirect result of the initial US airstrikes and ground invasion.

The war in Afghanistan has had devastating consequences for civilians, with insurgent actions contributing significantly to the death toll. The numbers provided above highlight the tragic impact of the conflict on the Afghan people.

The number of civilian deaths since the start of the war

The war in Afghanistan has resulted in a devastating loss of civilian life. While the exact number of civilian deaths is difficult to determine, various sources provide estimates that help shed light on the magnitude of the tragedy.

According to the Costs of War Project, the war in Afghanistan, which lasted from 2001 to 2021, resulted in the deaths of approximately 46,319 civilians. This figure, however, may not be fully comprehensive as it does not account for indirect deaths caused by factors such as disease, lack of access to food, water, infrastructure, and other consequences of the war. The Uppsala Conflict Data Program presents a higher estimate, placing the total number of deaths in the conflict at 212,191.

A breakdown of civilian deaths over the years provides further insight into the impact of the war. In the initial months of the war, between October 7, 2001, and January 1, 2002, the Project on Defense Alternatives estimated that at least 1,000 to 1,300 civilians were directly killed by the U.S.-led aerial bombing campaign. This figure excludes indirect deaths resulting from factors such as starvation, exposure, and injuries sustained while fleeing war zones, which claimed the lives of an additional 3,200 Afghans during this period.

The Los Angeles Times, reviewing reports from U.S., British, and Pakistani news sources, estimated between 1,067 and 1,201 civilian deaths from the bombing campaign during a five-month period from October 7, 2001, to February 28, 2002. Professor Marc W. Herold of the University of New Hampshire provided a higher estimate, suggesting that between 3,100 and 3,600 civilians were directly killed by U.S.-led forces between October 7, 2001, and June 3, 2003.

As the war progressed, civilian casualties continued to mount. Human Rights Watch estimated that at least 699 Afghan civilians were killed by insurgent forces in 2006, while at least 230 civilians lost their lives due to U.S. or NATO attacks in the same year. Professor Herold provided a higher estimate for 2008, suggesting that between 864 and 1,017 Afghan civilians were directly killed by U.S./NATO foreign forces.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) recorded 2,412 civilian deaths in the American-led war in 2009, a 14% increase from the previous year. UNAMA attributed two-thirds of these deaths to anti-government forces and about a quarter to U.S.-led military forces, with airstrikes continuing to be the main cause of civilian casualties.

In 2010, UNAMA and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) recorded a further increase in civilian deaths, with 2,777 Afghan civilians losing their lives in the war. Of these, 2,080 were attributed to insurgents and anti-government elements, while 440 were caused by U.S.-led military forces.

The trend of increasing civilian casualties persisted in subsequent years. In 2015 and 2016, annual civilian deaths consecutively broke records, with the UN estimating 3,545 civilian deaths in 2015 and 3,498 in 2016.

The war has also had a significant impact on the overall health and well-being of Afghans. In 2009, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health reported that two-thirds of Afghans suffer from mental health issues. Additionally, factors such as poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, and lack of access to healthcare have been exacerbated by the war, contributing to premature deaths.

The total number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan since the start of the war is likely significantly higher than the estimates provided, as many deaths go unreported or are challenging to verify. The true toll of the conflict encompasses not only those who lost their lives but also the countless families and communities forever changed by the devastation of war.

The number of civilian deaths caused by US airstrikes

The US war in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on civilians, with the conflict causing the breakdown of the economy, public health, security, and infrastructure. In 2017, the US military relaxed its rules of engagement for airstrikes in Afghanistan, resulting in a dramatic increase in civilian casualties. This change in rules led to a 330% increase in civilian deaths caused by US-led airstrikes between the last year of the Obama administration and the final year of recorded data under the Trump administration.

The exact number of civilian deaths caused by US airstrikes in Afghanistan is difficult to determine, as there is no single official figure. However, various organizations have provided estimates based on specific years or periods. According to the Costs of War Project, approximately 46,319 civilians have been killed in the war as of 2023, with this number potentially being higher due to unaccounted deaths from disease, lack of access to food, water, and other indirect consequences of the conflict. The Uppsala Conflict Data Program puts the total number of deaths in the conflict at 212,191.

Professor Marc W. Herold of the University of New Hampshire estimates that between 3,100 and 3,600 civilians were directly killed by US-led forces between October 7, 2001, and June 3, 2003. This includes only "impact deaths" and does not take into account deaths that occurred later from injuries or indirect consequences of the airstrikes and invasion. The Los Angeles Times reported between 1,067 and 1,201 civilian deaths from the US-led bombing campaign between October 7, 2001, and February 28, 2002. The Guardian suggests that as many as 20,000 Afghans may have died in 2001 as an indirect result of initial US airstrikes and the ground invasion.

UNAMA data analyzed by AOAV reveals that between 2016 and 2020, there were 3,977 total civilian casualties from airstrikes in Afghanistan, with 2,122 civilians killed and 1,855 injured. Of these, 1,598 were children, with 785 killed and 813 injured. International forces, including the US, were responsible for the majority (62%) of civilian deaths from airstrikes during this period. The rules of engagement for airstrikes were loosened in late 2017, enabling the US Air Force to conduct more airstrikes. This resulted in a significant increase in civilian casualties, with the US dropping more weapons on Afghanistan than at the height of their presence in 2011—over 20 airstrikes per day.

According to Statista, at least 22,000 civilians have been killed in US airstrikes during the war on terror, mainly in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. The minimum estimate for Afghanistan is 4,800 civilian airstrike deaths, while the maximum estimate by UK NGO Airwars is more than twice as high at around 48,000.

The high number of civilian deaths caused by US airstrikes in Afghanistan highlights the devastating impact of the conflict on the country's civilian population. The US government and the United Nations should ensure that civilian deaths and injuries, both direct and indirect, are included in public reporting of war deaths.

The number of civilian deaths caused by US-armed Afghan militia groups

The US-armed Afghan militia groups, funded by the CIA, have been responsible for serious human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killings of civilians. The number of civilian deaths caused by these groups is not clear, but the US government and the United Nations have been urged to ensure that civilian deaths and injuries, both as a direct result of war and as an indirect consequence of violent conflict, are included in public reporting of war deaths.

The US-armed Afghan militia groups are just one of many factors contributing to civilian deaths in Afghanistan. Since 2001, about 243,000 people have been killed in the Afghanistan/Pakistan warzone, with more than 70,000 civilians among them. As of March 2023, more than 70,000 Afghan and Pakistani civilians are estimated to have died as a direct result of the war.

The war has also had indirect consequences for civilians. For example, prior wars and civil conflict in the country have made Afghan society extremely vulnerable to the reverberating effects of the US post-9/11 war. These effects include elevated rates of disease due to lack of clean drinking water, malnutrition, and reduced access to healthcare. Nearly every factor associated with premature death—poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, lack of access to healthcare, environmental degradation—has been exacerbated by the current war.

In addition, even in the absence of fighting, unexploded ordnance from this war and landmines from previous wars continue to kill, injure, and maim civilians. Afghan land is contaminated with unexploded ordnance, which kills and injures tens of thousands of Afghans, especially children, as they travel and go about their daily chores.

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