The total number of civilian casualties decreased by 9 percent in 2017, compared to 2016, the U.N. mission said in its annual report on the subject. The 2017 Annual Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Afghanistan found that between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2017, there were 10,453 civilian casualties — 3,438 deaths and 7,015 wounded. Aerial operations accounted for 6 percent of all civilian casualties in Afghanistan in 2017. Contrary to the overall decrease in civilian casualties, women casualties increased by less than one percent, and women deaths increased by 5 percent. In line with the overall reduction in civilian casualties in 2017, child casualties decreased by 10 percent, compared to 2016.

Source: ABC News February 15, 2018 05:35 UTC