The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says 2015 has brought "no reprieve to civilians suffering the effects of intensifying armed conflict" in Afghanistan.
In a February 9 statement, the ICRC said the Afghan population continues to face "countless hardships, including large-scale indiscriminate attacks and increasing difficulties reaching health care."
“With no end in sight to the violence, there are fears conditions could get even worse this year," it added, resulting in rising humanitarian needs.
The Red Cross said civilians were frequently caught up in the fighting but that 2014 saw an 18 percent decline in patients accessing medical services due to the worsening security situation.
The United Nations has said that at least 3,188 Afghan civilians were killed in the intensifying war with the Taliban in 2014, making it the deadliest year on record for noncombatants.
