News / Asia

UN Urges Review After Airstrikes Kill Afghan Children

Afghan villagers look at the bodies of two children and a villager after they were allegedly killed in an airstrike by foreign troops in Kandahar, south of Kabul (file)
Afghan villagers look at the bodies of two children and a villager after they were allegedly killed in an airstrike by foreign troops in Kandahar, south of Kabul (file)
TEXT SIZE - +

The United Nations is calling on the United States and NATO to reconsider the use of airstrikes following the deaths of nine children in Afghanistan earlier this week.

U.N. envoy for children and armed conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, called the incident a "cause of serious concern."  She also called on the U.S. and NATO to ensure they take all necessary precautions in what she described as a volatile and complex situation.

Afghan officials said the children were collecting firewood when they were killed Tuesday in eastern Kunar province.

The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan apologized for the incident Wednesday.

General David Petraeus also ordered all military commanders and helicopter crews to be re-briefed on the rules for carrying out air raids.

NATO says its probe found that coalition forces mistakenly fired on the civilians as a result of miscommunication.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has warned the coalition could face "huge problems" if the inadvertent killing of civilians does not stop.

A recent Afghan investigation found that as many as 64 civilians were killed during separate NATO operations in Kunar province late last month.  The coalition says it is investigating the allegations.

A recent United Nations report found that more than 2,400 civilians were killed in 2010.  More than three-quarters of the deaths were caused by militants.

You May Like

Karzai to Discuss Enhancing Defense Ties with India

Afghanistan looking for more military aid as it prepares for withdrawal of NATO forces by next year More

India, China Pledge to Overcome Border Tensions

Indian prime minister and Chinese premier attempt to move past tense standoff in the Himalayas during Delhi talks More

Burmese President Opens US Visit with VOA Town Hall Meeting

Ahead of his meeting with President Obama Monday, Thein Sein answered questions on human rights and economic development in his country More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Valley Fever Raises Concerns in California, Arizona

A longstanding health problem in California's Central Valley has worsened in recent years, leading health officials to order the relocation of 3,000 prisoners from two state prisons. But the disease affects much of the population in some rural communities and, Mike O'Sullivan reports, while it often goes unnoticed, it sometimes can be devastating for patients.