Over 600 killed in month of violence across Iraq

Over 600 killed in month of violence across Iraq
The conflict in Iraq continues to exact a heavy toll on the population, with hundreds of more civilians killed and thousands injured last month.
2 min read
02 March, 2016
Last month saw a significant deterioration in Iraq's security situation [Getty]

A month of continuous violence in Iraq has left at least 670 people dead, with around two-thirds of those civilians.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq [UNAMI] put the number of killed civilians in February at 410, a figure which according to UN methodology includes the federal police, civil defence forces and personal security details.

The rest were security forces, including Kurdish Peshmerga and paramilitary troops.

It added that a total of 1,290 people were wounded, including 1,050 civilians.

The worst affected area was Baghdad, with 277 civilians killed and 838 injured.

Citing its local health authorities, the UN said at least four civilians were killed and 126 others wounded in the western province of Anbar, which has large areas under Islamic State extremist group control.

The UN said it could not fully verify the Anbar figures due to the increased volatility of the situation on the ground and the disruption of services.

In January, overall causality figures were at least 849 killed and 1,450 wounded.

"This conflict continues to exact a heavy toll on the population," said the UN Special Representative for Iraq, Jan Kubis.

"This is deeply worrying and disheartening. Civilians should not pay the price in this conflict," Kubis added.

This is deeply worrying and disheartening. Civilians should not pay the price in this conflict
- Jan Kubis, UN Special Representative for Iraq
  

Last month also witnessed a significant deterioration in Iraq's security situation, with two massive bombings in as many days by the Islamic State group in the town of Muqdadiyah and in Baghdad that killed at least 110 people.

The Islamic State group seized much of northern and western Iraq, including the second largest city, Mosul, in the summer of 2014.

With heavy backing from US-led coalition airstrikes, Iraqi troops scored key victories against IS since last year.

But a long-awaited campaign to retake Mosul, the main city held by the militants, has yet to begin.