UNAMI reports lowest monthly casualty figures in Iraq for past six years

ERBIL (Kurdistan) – The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has released its monthly casualty figures, highlighting that they are the lowest in six years.

According to a UNAMI statement, a total of 41 Iraqi civilians were killed and another 73 injured “in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict” in Iraq in November 2018.

Baghdad was the worst affected province, with 55 civilian casualties (23 killed, 32 injured), followed by Nineveh where eight were killed, and 19 injured, and Anbar with four deaths and 15 wounded.

“The figures include ordinary citizens, and others considered civilians at the time of death or injury, such as police in non-combat functions, civil [defesne], personal security teams, facilities protection police and fire department personnel,” it added.

Ján Kubiš, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for UNAMI, described the ongoing loss of life as “regrettable,” but noted that “the latest figures are the lowest since UNAMI began publishing them in November 2012.”

“These are not just figures. They are human beings with families,” Kubiš stressed.  

“But these figures, sad as they are, also reflect the continuing downward trend in the level of violence as the country recovers from its fight with terrorism and presses ahead [toward] a stable, prosperous future.”

Despite Iraq declaring a “final victory” against the so-called Islamic State in December 2017, the extremist group continues to carry out sporadic attacks, including bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings in previously liberated areas of the country.