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BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (March 5, 2008) - Afghan National
Security Forces, assisted by Coalition forces, provided medical and
humanitarian aid to multiple villages on Feb. 26 in the Arghandab
District, Zabul Province after Taliban forces attacked them, Feb.
23.
In response to the raid, ANSF and Coalition forces quickly moved
in to repair the damage done by the Taliban. The Taliban kidnapped
six men from one village during the raid, stole food, and
vandalized a number of other villages. There is no word on the
whereabouts of the six abductees.
"When friendly forces arrived, every villager in sight swarmed
the trucks," said a Coalition soldier on the ground. "Other
villagers walked out of the mountains, leaving their goats in the
field, and children flocked to the ANSF trucks."
Friendly forces provided supplies such as food, blanket,
clothes, shoes and radios to help the people recover from the
damage done to them by the insurgents and to help them through the
harsh winter.
"The [children] around here have new shoes, and they actually
smile when we come around," said a Coalition soldier. "I remember
when we first arrived; the children cried, and we saw much
suffering."
ANSF also provided medical assistance to several villagers who
where beaten by Taliban forces. The soldiers also treated anyone
else in the area in need of medical assistance. Several people were
taken to a coalition clinic for further treatment.
"You've made me happy beyond words. I've never seen another man
willing to feed a baby," said a grandfather who brought in his
malnourished granddaughter to received medical assistance.
"The medical and humanitarian visits are paying dividends," said
Capt. Vanessa Bowman, a Coalition spokesperson, said. "We are
seeing the quality of life improving for the village and the trust
for the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and ANSF
are increasing."
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