For Zarmina, a resident of rural Afghanistan, the memory of a nearby drone strike remains visceral. \"We heard the blast, then silence,\" she recounts. \"Next to our water pipeline, there was a piece of skin. I had no way of knowing whether it belonged to a woman, child, or someone else.\" Her account highlights the human toll of aerial warfare in conflict zones.
Drone strikes have surged globally by 55% since 2020 according to conflict monitors, with Afghanistan remaining a focal point. Civilian accounts like Zarmina’s underscore growing concerns about accountability and collateral damage. \"It was dangerous and painful,\" she said. \"We were scared to leave home for weeks.\"
Human rights advocates argue such testimonies reveal systemic gaps in conflict resolution protocols. With over 30% of UN-reported civilian casualties in 2023 linked to aerial operations, calls for transparency in targeting processes intensify. Meanwhile, survivors navigate trauma with limited psychosocial support systems in war-torn regions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
