UNAMI: Number of civilian casualties in Iraq decreased during September

UNAMI “has been hindered in effectively verifying casualties in certain areas in some cases.”

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Violence, terrorism, and armed conflict in Iraq during September killed 75 civilians and injured 179 others, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said on Sunday.

“The figures include ordinary citizens, and others considered civilian at the time of death or injury, such as police in non-combat functions, civil defense, personal security teams, facilities protection police, and fire department personnel,” the UNAMI statement said.

According to the UNAMI, the Iraqi capital of Baghdad was the worst affected province due to violence and terror attacks during September, with 101 civilian casualties of which 31 were killed, and 70 injured.

Salahuddin province, in northern Baghdad, was the second hardest hit area with nine killed and 38 more injured followed by Kirkuk province with nine dead and 15 wounded, the statement added.

UNAMI revealed that it “has been hindered in effectively verifying casualties in certain areas in some cases.”

Iraq analyst Joel Wing, author of the Musings on Iraq blog, warned that the figures might be unrealistic due to Baghdad’s pressure on the UN.

“The UN figures are already really low because they cut their reporting due to” criticism from the Iraqi government, he said in August.

According to casualty figures recorded by UNAMI for August, a total of 90 Iraqi civilians were killed and another 117 injured in “acts of terrorism, violence, and armed conflict.”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany