UNAMI: Over 200 Iraqis killed, injured due to violence in December

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) A total of 69 civilians, excluding police personnel, were killed, while 142 others were wounded in December due to acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq, the monthly release by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) announced on Tuesday.

The worst affected province, according to UNAMI, was Baghdad with 122 civilian casualties (24 killed, 98 injured). Salahuddin ranked the second place, with 7 killed and 25 injured, then Kirkuk came third with 15 killed and 6 injured.

“Casualty figures for the month of December 2017 have remained at a similar level to November, which is disappointing,” Ján Kubiš, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq, said. “I very much hope that, as we move in the new year, these figures will fall rapidly as much-needed peace and stability return to Iraq.”

The figures saw a significant decline from November’s which reached a total of 117 Iraqi civilians killed and another 264 injured.

According to the UNAMI report, 3298 civilians were killed and 4781 others were wounded in 2017, excluding Anbar civilian casualty figures for November and December, which are not available.

Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

In December, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.