8th August, 2018
At least eight civilians, including children, were killed in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province on Wednesday after their vehicle hit a roadside bomb, an official said.
At least six others were injured in the incident, which happened in Shulgar district, Balkh Police Sporkesman, Shir Durrani said.
The victims were travelling from a village to the district centre when their vehicle hit the roadside bomb on Wednesday morning, Durrani said.
Improvised explosive devices (IED) remain the leading cause of civilian casualties in Afghanistan’s conflict, accounting for 45 per cent of cases, the UN said in a report mid July.
Over 650 civilians were killed and over 1,600 injured due to suicide and non-suicide IEDs between January and June this year, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in the report.