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Four Million Afghans Affected by U.S. Military Campaign
Saturday, November 10, 2001
(19:30 GMT)
Islam Online

KARACHI, Pakistan -- 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.
(More: Islam-Online.com News Source)
2001 © Islam Online.

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