Afghan civilian casualties spike

The number of women killed and wounded in Afghanistan in 2013 rose 36% percent from the year before, according to a UN report released Saturday. The number of Afghan children who were killed and wounded jumped 34%.

Overall, there was a 14% increase in the number of Afghan civilians who were killed and wounded in 2013.

The UN report noted that the spike in civilian casualties was due to the “changing dynamics of the conflict” as NATO handed over security duties to the Afghans, thereby facilitating President Obama's so-called exit strategy.