What is civilian compensation? When a war is taking place the armed forces are not meant to involve civilians in the violence. This applies whatever country the army is fighting in. In the context of the current war in Afghanistan the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has paid out millions in compensation to Afghani civilians who have been injured by our forces whilst they have been in Afghanistan. The UK army entered Afghanistan on the 7th October 2001. In 2010 the UK military paid out £1.3 million in compensation for a total of 1, 460 claims. The average amount paid out to civilians to compensate them for their experiences was £2,000.
The Guardian reported the extent of the compensation paid out to Afghanis after the MoD released the information to them following their request for freedom of information. The compensation amounts have been awarded to individuals who have been injured following combat situations in their country, damage to property and to the families of civilians who have passed away as the result of the conflict. Almost all of the claims were entered into by civilians in the Helmand province with a tiny handful being made by residents of Kabul.
It is understood that Afghan people do not support the Taliban and most Afghanis do not wish the Taliban regime to be back in power but this does not mean they deserve to be involved in the battles between our forces and the Taliban forces. Around 90% of civilians do not want the Taliban regime to be reinstated – this is according to a survey conducted in the country. Some of the claims made against the UK military are extremely poignant, with one claim, settled for £7,000 being made by the family of a farmer who stayed with his livestock and his farm whilst his family moved away to safer territory. His farm was damaged and he was killed when bombs were dropped on his land. Another devastating claim to read being a claim which resulted from the death of 2 brothers and their sons following a strike by Hellfire missiles – this claim was settled for £32,000.
As residents of the country they also do not deserve to have their personal lives disrupted even more than they already have been – some of the claims which have been made are for lost or stolen personal items. Many individuals have entered into claims for items such as mobile phone returned to the wrong individual following their surrender at military checkpoints. All in all, civilian injury compensation helps the citizens of a country which has been torn apart by war.