UN Casualty Figures for Iraq for the Month of November 2016

A total of 2,885 Iraqis were killed and another 1,380 were injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in November 2016*, according to casualty figures recorded by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

The number of civilians killed in November was 926 (including 07 federal police, Sahwa civil defence, Personal Security Details, facilities protection police, fire department), and the number of civilians injured was 930 (including 18 federal police, Sahwa civil defence, Personal Security Details, facilities protection police, fire department). Fifty-two foreign civilians were killed and 31 injured in November.

A total of 1,959 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (including police engaged in combat functions, Peshmerga, SWAT and militias fighting alongside the Iraqi Army, not including Anbar Operations) were killed and 450 were injured (not including casualties from Anbar).

Baghdad was the worst affected Governorate with 733 civilian casualties (152 killed, 581 injured). Ninewa 332 killed and 114 injured, Salahadin 60 killed and 88 injured, Babil, 56 killed and 23 injured, and Kirkuk 18 killed and 17 injured.

According to information obtained by UNAMI from the Health Directorate in Anbar, the Governorate suffered a total of 390 civilian casualties (292 killed and 98 injured). Figures are updated until 27 November, inclusive.

"The casualty figures are staggering, with civilians accounting for a significant number of the victims," Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG) Ján Kubiš said. "In its desperate attempt to cling on to territory it controls in Mosul and Ninewa areas Daesh has been employing the most vicious tactics, using civilian homes as firing positions as well as abducting and forcibly moving civilians, effectively using them as human shields."

The SRSG noted that the Iraqi security forces have declared they are making utmost efforts during their Mosul military operations to avoid putting civilians in harm's way despite Daesh's continuous tactics to the contrary, often taking additional casualties among the security forces as a result. Mr. Kubiš urged that all necessary actions necessary must be undertaken to ensure the protection of the civilian inhabitants from the effects of armed conflict and violence.

*CAVEATS: In general, UNAMI has been hindered in effectively verifying casualties in conflict areas. Figures for casualties from Anbar Governorate are provided by the Health Directorate and are noted above. Casualty figures obtained from the Anbar Health Directorate might not fully reflect the real number of casualties in those areas due to the increased volatility of the situation on the ground and the disruption of services. In some cases, UNAMI could only partially verify certain incidents. UNAMI has also received, without being able to verify, reports of large numbers of casualties along with unknown numbers of persons who have died from secondary effects of violence after having fled their homes due to exposure to the elements, lack of water, food, medicines and health care. Since the start of the military operations to retake Mosul and other areas in Ninewa, UNAMI has received several reports of incidents involving civilian casualties, which at times it has been unable to verify. For these reasons, the figures reported have to be considered as the absolute minimum.