Islamic State Killed, Wounded Thousands of Afghans Since 2021

(Bloomberg) -- Islamic State fighters were responsible for the deaths of most of the 1,000 Afghan civilians killed and more than 2,500 others wounded since the Taliban seized power in 2021 during the chaotic withdrawal of US troops.

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Three quarters of the casualties were caused by “indiscriminate IED attacks in populated areas including places of worship, school and markets,” the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a report on Tuesday, documenting deaths and injuries from Aug. 15 2021 to the end of May.

Islamic State fighters, one of the Taliban’s biggest internal security threats, carried out most of the attacks and the minority Shia Hazara community suffered the most, according to the UN.

Afghan Economy on Verge of Collapse If Aid Drops, UN Warns

The attacks exacerbated the country’s already dire humanitarian situation, the UN report added. Millions of people are living in severe poverty as international aid, the country’s main source of funds, has all but dried since the Taliban grabbed power.

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