23.2 C
Accra
Friday, August 1, 2025
WorldAt least 64 children have been killed in UK military operations in...

Date:

At least 64 children have been killed in UK military operations in Afghanistan

The UK government has paid out for at least four times the number of Afghan children killed than it previously admitted.

In addition to the 16 publicly acknowledged children, compensation payments have been made to 64 others.

Between 2006 and 2014, all were killed in fighting involving UK forces.

The new figures are the result of Freedom of Information Act requests made by the charity Action on Armed Violence (AOAV).

The most common causes of death listed were airstrikes and being caught in crossfire.

According to AOAV, the number of civilian deaths caused by British forces is likely to be underestimated.

Of those deaths that have been recorded, the actual number of children killed could actually be as high as 135, because some of the fatalities are described in Ministry of Defence (MoD) documents merely as sons and daughters – with ages and circumstances of deaths not always included.

AOAV says it is possible some of those 135 were adults, but the likelihood of them having been under 18 is high because of the very young average age in Afghanistan.

Most of the 881 fatality claims made to the British were rejected and only a quarter received compensation.

Among those which were successful was one for eight members of the same Afghan family, killed in a coalition airstrike on a village in the Nawa district of Helmand in May 2009.

A man asked for compensation for the deaths of his nephew, his nephew’s two wives and their five children.

It took 144 days to settle the claim, for which he was awarded £7,205 ($8,260 using current exchange rate).

In total, the MoD paid out £688,000 for 289 Afghan civilian deaths between 2006-14.

AOAV says claimants were often required to provide photos, birth certificates as well as supporting letters before being paid and many were formally interviewed by British personnel to confirm they had no Taliban affiliation.

Previous Freedom of Information requests show UK payments for deaths in Afghanistan have varied widely. In some cases, individuals received more for the loss of property or livestock than family members.

In a statement, the MoD said: “Any civilian death during conflict is a tragedy, more so when children and family members are involved.”

It said although its forces try to minimise injury to civilians, “regrettably it can never be entirely eliminated”.

But Iain Overton, director of charity AOAV, criticised the lack of transparency over the deaths – with it having taken researchers years to obtain the information from the MoD.

He also said the lack of debate around the deaths raised questions as to whether lessons had been learned.

UK soldier in southern Afghanistan, August 2007
IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA Image caption, UK soldier in southern Afghanistan, August 2007

Human rights groups and charities have repeatedly criticised both the US and UK over the way they investigate and report civilian casualties in military operations.

The MoD admits to just one civilian death caused by an RAF airstrike during its bombing campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

In contrast, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin recently ordered a major review of the way the Pentagon investigates civilian casualties. It came after a US airstrike during the withdrawal from Kabul last year – which killed 10 civilians.

At first, the US claimed it had been targeting extremists, but journalists on the ground found evidence that all those killed were civilians.

The US Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan includes hiring more than 150 military staff to focus on mitigating harm to civilians, as well as better reporting and data collection of such incidents.

The MoD said it was following the progress of the US review, but has not committed to any changes in the way it investigates or reports civilian deaths.

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

“Don’t make me and Stonebwoy fight ooo”- Samini warn netizens

Veteran dancehall musician, Samini has warned netizens to resist...

Kanye West’s Heil Hitler song bans him from entering Australia

US rapper Kanye West has been banned from entering...

Agradaa describes moment shared with President Mahama heavenly – Agradaa

Evangelist Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Agradaa, shared a...

Dada Joe Remix extradited to face romance scam charges in USA

Ghana’s nightlife mogul and alleged crypto kingpin, Nana Kojo...

Govt launches 24-Hour Economy policy today

The government's flagship, 24-Hour Economy Policy, will be launched...

GRA sets July 16 for GHS1 fuel levy implementation

The implementation of the new GHS1 Energy Sector Shortfall...

Related stories

US travel ban against Togo, Libya, others takes effect today

Effective today, Monday, June 9, nationals of twelve countries...

Pakistan: Police in search of over 200 inmates following earth tremor

Over 200 inmates are currently on the run after...

Pope Leo XIV shares canonical acceptance

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has officially accepted his election...

Profile of the new Pope – Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost

"Peace be with all of you!" - the first...

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost named as the 267th Pope, takes the name Pope Leo XIV

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the...

Black smoke signals end of first day of conclave to elect new pope

A thick column of black smoke rising from the...

Siemens exec and his family involved in fatal Hudson helicopter crash

Tragedy struck New York City on Thursday when a...