A car bomb site in Baghdad, Iraq in November 2016: Over 28 people killed here
No fewer than 19,266 civilian casualties were recorded in troubled Iraq in eight months of 2016.
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) stated that of casualties, 6,878 were killed and 12,388 wounded.
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, JΓ‘n KubiΕ‘, stated in a press statement that the casualty figures excluded four months β May, July, August and December.
βIn December, a total of 386 Iraqi civilians were killed and another 1,066 were injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict.
βThese casualty figures do not include the civilian casualty figures for Anbar for the months of May, July, August and December.β
He stated that though the figures for December were lower than previous months, βwe are nevertheless noticing an increase in terrorist bombings towards the end of the monthβ and in the last couple of days, targeting civilians.
βThis is, no doubt, an attempt by Daesh to divert attention from their losses in Mosul and, unfortunately, it is the innocent civilians who are paying the price,β KubiΕ‘ stated.
The UN envoy for Iraq strongly condemned the New Yearβs triple bombings in Baghdad in which large numbers of civilians were killed and injured.
βThis is outrageous. Terrorists of Daesh who are steadily losing ground in Iraq are now trying to sow terror and discord.
βThey will fail here as they are failing at the frontlines.
βI call on the authorities to do their utmost in order to speedily bring the perpetrators to justice,β he also stated.
The UN envoy extended his condolences to the families of the victims as well as wishing the injured a speedy recovery.