Afghanistan: Civilian casualties down, but hundreds still killed, despite US-Taliban deal

The number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan fell by nearly a third in the first quarter of 2020 when compared to the same period last year, representing the lowest first quarter figure since 2012, according to a UN report. Despite that dramatic drop, 533 Afghan civilians - including more than 150 children - were killed due to fighting. Those deaths came amid raised hopes that the Afghan government and the Taliban would begin substantive peace talks.