The number of civilians killed or wounded in Afghanistan has reportedly soared by 31 per cent in the first six months of this year.

　　More than 1,200 Afghans were killed and almost 2,000 injured in the first six months of the year, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said on Tuesday in its mid-year report.

　　"The human cost of this conflict is unfortunately rising," Staffan De Mistura, the UN special envoy in Afghanistan said while releasing the report.

　　"We are concerned. We are very concerned about the future because the human cost is being paid too heavily by civilians. This report is a wake up call."

　　According to the report, the previously more stable northeastern region has seen a sharp increase in anti government activities, increasing death toll by 136 per cent.

　　The surge in Nato supported operations have intensified the conflict, raising the civilian toll around Kandahar city and surrounding areas in southern Afghanistan.

　　"Enormous responsibility"

　　De Mistura emphasized that both Afghani government and international allies bore "enormous responsibility to protect non combatants".

　　Leaked documents from US military field reports revealed by whistleblowers website Wikileaks early August have showed that US military attempted to cover up civilian casualties in Afghanistan, raising questions about the number of casualties reported.

　　PHOTO CAPTION

　　A US soldier shields his eyes from dust as a Blackhawk helicopter lands at the US base in Arghandab Valley on August 7, 2010.

　　Source: Aljazeera.net