UN report highlights Afghan conflict's toll on women

Violence against civilians in continued conflict in Afghanistan has taken a specific toll on women and children, with a 23 percent rise in women casualties and 13 percent rise in child casualties, according to new UN report.

The report, released by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Wednesday, said that there were 4,900 documented civilian casualties in the first half of 2015, an increase in total civilian casualties by one percent as compared to the first six months of 2014.

"Afghan civilians have suffered far too long from this destructive conflict," Nicholas Haysom, head of UNAMA, said.

"The devastating consequences of this violence against civilians as documented in this report should serve to strengthen the broad conviction that peace is urgently needed.

"Until peace is achieved, all parties to the conflict must fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law to minimise the impact of the conflict on civilians and match their public statements on the protection of civilians with concrete actions."

Haysom is also the UN secretary-general's Special Representative for Afghanistan.

Dominic Medley, a UNAMA spokesperson, told Al Jazeera that a significant portion of the increase in female casualties can be blamed on a combination of factors including more ground fighting and the kind of weaponry being used.

Faltering peace process

The growing insecurity comes as Afghan security forces face their first summer of fighting without full NATO support.

The report coincides with a faltering peace process, with the Taliban reportedly confronting a bitter power transition after Mullah Omar's death.

A striking 90 percent of civilian casualties had come from from ground engagements, improvised explosive devices, complex and suicide attacks and targeted killings, the report said.

The report said 1,592 civilians were killed, a six percent fall over last year, while the number of injured jumped four percent to 3,329.

Civilian deaths and injuries caused by pro-government forces caused 16 percent of civilian casualties during ground battles, recording a total of 60 percent increase in pro-government battles.