UN: 167 civilians killed and wounded in Afghanistan over past day

In the last 24 hours, 75 members were killed, while 17 others were wounded in a shootout between government forces and Taliban militants in the Afghan city of Lashkar Gāh in Helmand province, Report informs, citing Sputnik Afghanistan.

The UN mission in Afghanistan said 167 civilians had been killed and wounded in clashes in Lashkar Gāh over the past day. The mission called on the conflicting parties to protect civilians more: "Otherwise, the outcome will be more tragic."

According to the US and British embassies in Afghanistan, the Taliban are bombing the homes of civilians to prevent an attack by Afghan security forces.

A top Afghan military commander Sami Sadat has ordered residents to leave the besieged city of Lashkar Gah in southern Afghanistan as the army prepared a major offensive to flush out Taliban fighters after three days of heavy fighting.

Ariana News reported that 40 civilians were killed and 150 wounded in the three-day battle for the camp.