Reparations Database
K. Chen; Invisible Victims of Drone Strikes in Afghanistan, Peace Review Journal of Social Justice, Vol. 27 (4)
YEAR
Country Focus
DOCUMENTS
This brief article outlines that although Afghanistan is one of the most heavily affected countries in the world, most Afghan civilian victims originating from United States (US) drone strikes do not see their right to a remedy ensured. Reported casualties are not properly counted or investigated and, generally, the victims are not compensated, nor do they receive an official apology. While the US occasionally makes so called ‘condolence payments’ to the victims, these cannot be understood as an official acknowledgment of any wrongdoing. Moreover, Afghan victims receive a much lower amount than drone victims in other countries.
Afghan civilian drone casualties are caused by a number of factors ranging from a lack of adequate precaution in advance of the attack to the misidentification of civilians as legitimate targets. The latter is due to limitations of the technical systems used and unexperienced operators.
The author concludes that both the US and Afghan governments should ensure that drone victims and their families have effective access to remedies, including compensation, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition.
More on Afghan drone victims and their non-effectuated right to a remedy can be found here: