MoD Pays Out for Afghan Deaths
Compensation being considered in relation to more than 100 civilian deaths caused by the British army in Helmand province
The Ministry of Defence has paid out, or is considering, compensation in relation to more than 100 civilian deaths caused by the British army in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan over the last 18 months, new figures show.
Some payments have been as low as $210 (£127) for a fatality, according to figures obtained by Channel 4 News under the Freedom of Information Act. But others have been given $7,000 to compensate for the accidental killing of a loved one, revealing an apparently arbitrary system.
Helmand is one of the most violent regions of Afghanistan in which UK forces have spearheaded the Nato effort for five years. Between December 2007 and May 2009, the British army has paid out, or is currently processing, claims that relate to at least 104 deaths in Helmand. In the same period they have also rejected claims relating to 113 civilian deaths.
The statistics detail compensation paid for damage to property and livestock as well as people.
In January the MoD paid out $210 for what the documents record as "death of wife & damage to compound", while in June the parents of a man called Zahir Khan received $7,000 after he was killed by a missile.
On 2 May, the MoD paid $2,600 (£1,577) for the death of a girl, a boy and 15 sheep in Sangin in 2008. But in September last year, the death of two other children in Musa Qaleh merited $10,000 (£6,067).
The demolition of the outer wall of a house was awarded a $700 (£425) payout, as was the death of someone's son.
The biggest payout in the past 18 months was for $39,792 (£24,147), which compensated for "multiple fatalities, injuries and property" in Lashkar Gah in October last year.
Last night on Channel 4 News Rachel Reid, Afghanistan researcher for Human Rights Watch, said: "It's hard to work out the logic. When it comes to the British payouts, what they tend to prefer is paying out for property damage but it's quite difficult to get money from the British when they've killed somebody."The MoD said in a statement: "Compensation claims brought against British forces are considered on the basis of whether the MoD has a legal liability to pay compensation."
Some payments have been as low as $210 (£127) for a fatality, according to figures obtained by Channel 4 News under the Freedom of Information Act. But others have been given $7,000 to compensate for the accidental killing of a loved one, revealing an apparently arbitrary system.
Helmand is one of the most violent regions of Afghanistan in which UK forces have spearheaded the Nato effort for five years. Between December 2007 and May 2009, the British army has paid out, or is currently processing, claims that relate to at least 104 deaths in Helmand. In the same period they have also rejected claims relating to 113 civilian deaths.
The statistics detail compensation paid for damage to property and livestock as well as people.
In January the MoD paid out $210 for what the documents record as "death of wife & damage to compound", while in June the parents of a man called Zahir Khan received $7,000 after he was killed by a missile.
On 2 May, the MoD paid $2,600 (£1,577) for the death of a girl, a boy and 15 sheep in Sangin in 2008. But in September last year, the death of two other children in Musa Qaleh merited $10,000 (£6,067).
The demolition of the outer wall of a house was awarded a $700 (£425) payout, as was the death of someone's son.
The biggest payout in the past 18 months was for $39,792 (£24,147), which compensated for "multiple fatalities, injuries and property" in Lashkar Gah in October last year.
Last night on Channel 4 News Rachel Reid, Afghanistan researcher for Human Rights Watch, said: "It's hard to work out the logic. When it comes to the British payouts, what they tend to prefer is paying out for property damage but it's quite difficult to get money from the British when they've killed somebody."The MoD said in a statement: "Compensation claims brought against British forces are considered on the basis of whether the MoD has a legal liability to pay compensation."
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