Kabul, Jul 25 (IANS): The Afghan civilian casualties have increased in first six months of the year in comparison with the same period in 2015, a UN Mission said on Monday.

"Between January and June this year, the Human Rights team of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documented 1,601 civilian deaths and 3,565 injured. This represents an increase of four per cent compared to the first six months of 2015 -- and is the highest half-year total since 2009," Xinhua news agency quoted a UN report as saying.

"Every single casualty like people killed while praying, working, studying, fetching water, recovering in hospitals, represents a failure of commitment and should be a call to action for parties to the conflict to take meaningful, concrete steps to reduce civilian's suffering and increase protection," a UN official said.

The report also found other human rights violations and abuses, including the deliberate targeting of women in the public sphere, use of children in armed conflicts, sexual violence against boys and girls, attacks on educational and health facilities, abductions and summary executions.

The report said 60 per cent of the casualties were attributed to the Taliban and other insurgent groups, while 23 per cent were attributed to the security forces. Some 17 per cent of civilian casualties remained un attributed.

More than 22,941 civilians were killed and over 40,993 others injured from January 1, 2009 to June 30, 2016 according to the report.