At least 64 children killed in UK military Afghan operations

The UK authorities has paid retired for the deaths of astatine slightest 4 times much Afghan children than it has antecedently admitted to.

Compensation payments person been issued for 64 children, alternatively than the 16 publically acknowledged.

All were killed successful warring involving UK forces betwixt 2006 and 2014.

The caller figures travel from Freedom of Information requests made by the foundation Action connected Armed Violence.

Airstrikes and being caught successful crossfire were among the astir communal causes of decease that were listed. AOAV believes the fig of recorded civilian deaths "caused by British forces" is apt to beryllium an underestimate.

Of those deaths that person been recorded, the existent fig of children killed could really beryllium arsenic precocious arsenic 135, due to the fact that immoderate of the fatalities are described successful MoD documents simply arsenic sons and daughters - with ages and circumstances of deaths not ever included.

Action connected Armed Violence (AOAV) says it is imaginable immoderate of those 135 were adults, but the likelihood of them having been nether 18 is precocious due to the fact that of the precise young mean property successful Afghanistan.

Most of the 881 fatality claims made to the British were rejected and lone a 4th received compensation.

Among those which were palmy was 1 for 8 members of the aforesaid Afghan family, killed successful a conjugation airstrike connected a colony successful the Nawa territory of Helmand successful May 2009.

A antheral asked for compensation for the deaths of his nephew, his nephew's 2 wives and their 5 children.

It took 144 days to settee the claim, for which helium was awarded £7,205 ($8,260 utilizing existent speech rate).

AOAV says claimants were often required to supply photos, commencement certificates arsenic good arsenic supporting letters earlier being paid and galore were formally interviewed by British unit to corroborate they had nary Taliban affiliation.

In a statement, the MoD said: "Any civilian decease during struggle is simply a tragedy, much truthful erstwhile children and household members are involved."

It said though its forces effort to minimise wounded to civilians, "regrettably it tin ne'er beryllium wholly eliminated".

But Iain Overton, manager of foundation AOAV, criticised the deficiency of transparency implicit the deaths - with it having taken researchers years to get the accusation from the MoD.

He besides said the deficiency of statement astir the deaths raised questions arsenic to whether lessons had been learned.

Human rights groups and charities person repeatedly criticised some the US and UK implicit the mode they analyse and study civilian casualties successful subject operations.

In contrast, the US Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, precocious ordered a large reappraisal of the mode the Pentagon investigates civilian casualties. It came aft a US airstrike during the withdrawal from Kabul past twelvemonth - which killed 10 civilians.

The US Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan includes hiring much than 150 subject unit to absorption connected mitigating harm to civilians, arsenic good arsenic amended reporting and information postulation of specified incidents.

The MoD said it was pursuing the advancement of the US review, but has not committed to immoderate changes successful the mode it investigates oregon reports civilian deaths.