Afghanistan was slightly less dangerous last year for civilians, who died in fewer numbers for the first time in six years.

A report from the United Nations said 2,754 civilians were killed in 2012, compared to 3,131 during the previous year.

The decline was attributed to multiple factors: the slowing pace of the ground war; more fighting by Afghan forces, who possess less firepower than U.S. soldiers; fewer suicide attacks on non-government targets; and efforts by American and NATO forces to reduce the impact of fighting on civilians, including reducing the number of aerial bombings.

Not all the news was good, however. The number of civilians injured increased from 4,706 in 2011 to 4,805 in 2012.

Roadside bombings also were up slightly, as were targeted killings and episodes of intimidation (such as house burnings). Also, the number of female victims increased by 20%.

Insurgents were responsible for about 81% of last year’s casualties, while 8% of civilian deaths and injuries were caused by NATO, Afghan security forces and government militias—a 46% decrease from 2011. The remaining 11% of civilian casualties were the result of crossfire and other incidents for which the perpetrators could not be established.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Afghanistan Civilian Casualty Figures Drop for the First Time in 6 Years (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan)

U.N. Report Shows Fewer Killings of Afghan Civilians, Suggesting Shift in War (by Alissa J. Rubin, New York Times)

Afghanistan Gets Safer for Civilians as U.N. Warns Taliban of ‘War Crimes’ (by Spencer Ackerman, Wired)

Afghanistan Annual Report 2012: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) (pdf)

Afghan Civilian Deaths Average 6 a Day; Most Killed by Insurgents (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

How Much is the Life of a Dead Innocent Afghan Worth? (by Matt Bewig, AllGov)

McChrystal Admits U.S. Troops are Killing Innocent Afghans at Checkpoints (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)