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FOUR
MILLION AFGHANS AFFECTED BY U.S. MILITARY CAMPAIGN
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AFGHAN REFUGEES |
KARACHI, Nov.
9 (Islam Online) -- More than four million Afghans have been affected
by the bombing of the US-led coalition and the onset of chilly winter threatens
them with further suffering through starvation, a lack of medical aid and other
supplies.
This
is the opinion of Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi, a world-renowned social worker. who
runs the largest ambulance service in Pakistan.
Edhi
recently visited Afghanistan to monitor relief operations being carried out by
his Edhi Foundation, based in Kandahar, Kabul and Jalalabad.
If
the current humanitarian situation in Afghanistan persists, said Edhi, the
number of Afghans suffering from malnutrition, starvation and serious illnesses
could swell to unmanageable levels.
“[The]
situation is going from bad to worst with every passing day,” Edhi told Islam
Online Friday. “They (Afghans) desperately need food, medicines and other
essential supplies as the constant bombing has destroyed fruit farms and
food.”
He
added that recent claims by Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban militia that
civilians were being targeted by U.S. airstrike were “true to some extent. I
personally saw several women and children being treated in Kandahar hospital who
definitely have no connections with Osama Bin Laden and Taliban.”
“The
hospitals in these cities are in deteriorating conditions,” said Edhi.
“There is no proper medical facilities for seriously injured people. That is
why they are being brought to Quetta and Peshawar.”
He
appreciated the sentiments of American people following the deadly September 11
attacks. Edhi appealed to the United States to show restraint to ensure that
innocent Afghans were not made targets during air strikes.
“Innocent
people should not be killed in war against Taliban,” he added.
Edhi
also called for practical measures to help the needy Afghans, who could die if
warm clothing, food, medicines and other essential items were not provided
to them in time.
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