Civilian casualties in Afghanistan hit record high - UN
Civilian casualties of the war in Afghanistan rose to record levels for the seventh year in row in 2015, as violence spread across the country in the wake of the withdrawal of most international troops, the United Nations reported on Sunday. At least 3,545 non-combatants died and another 7,457 were injured by fighting last year in a 4-percent increase over 2014, the international organization said in its annual report on civilian casualties. "The harm done to civilians is totally unacceptable," Nicholas Haysom, the head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said in a statement. Fighting between Western-backed government forces and insurgent groups meant more non-combatants are being caught in the crossfire. Heavy fighting in the northern city of Kunduz, which briefly fell to the Taliban in late September, and a wave of suicide bombs which killed and wounded hundreds of people in the capital Kabul last year were the main factors behind the rise, while elsewhere casualties fell.
Cardinal Tagle appeals for 'mercy' for migrants
Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has appealed for compassion for people who have been forced to migrate because of poverty and conflict around the world. "Many of these forced migrants become victims of human trafficking and forced labor, the new forms of slavery," Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila said in his homily to mark National Migrants Sunday, Feb. 14. Most migrants leave their homes because of job opportunities in other places, he said. "The whole world is being challenged by this phenomenon. Where is humanity? Where is the human heart? Where do we find mercy and compassion? Where?" the prelate asked as he challenged Catholics "to be merciful to migrants and refugees" during the Year of Mercy.
SOUTH SUDAN: Media need to work in freedom says Bishop
The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Bishop Santo Loku Pio says the Government of South Sudan should ensure that the media in the country do their work without hindrance to enable them enlighten South Sudanese on the reconciliation process. The Bishop further said that journalists should be given freedom to fully inform citizens if the nation is to grow and if peace is to take root.
