UN: 900+ Children Killed in Afghanistan in 2016

More than 900 children were killed in Afghanistan in 2016, a nearly 25 percent increase from the previous year’s number, the United Nations reported Monday. It was the most violent year on record for children in the country. “I am deeply saddened to report, for yet another year, another increase in civilian casualties, another all-time high figure,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN envoy to Afghanistan, during a press conference. In total, 3,498 people were killed in 2016, including 923 children. An additional 7,920 people were wounded. The deaths were largely caused by munitions and mines left from decades of conflict, officials said.