Humanitarian Acts By Afghan And US Soldiers

The picture tells the tale: a burly Afghan soldier runs into a manmade wind, a child bundled under each arm. An Afghan civilian follows as quickly as is consistent with his dignity; an American soldier stands guard.

The photo, just received this week, was taken by First Lieutenant Anthony Delsignore, an American officer with Combined Joint Task Force 76 (CJTF-76) in Afghanistan. It shows the helicopter rescue of Afghan civilians on June 23rd and is a powerful reminder that, even in the middle of a war, a helicopter remains the most potent and versatile rescue tool ever invented.

Another photo shows why the people were displaced: a massive flood, destroying their villages on what had been the banks of a much narrower river.

Like most Afghans, these civilians work the land. No male is exempt from farm work; men do the hard labor of plowing, planting and harvesting, and boys herd animals. But even nature can turn against these hardy farmers, and it did so last week when a dam on the Indus River gave way. Floodwaters thundered downstream, and the people of a small village near Mehtar Lam found themselves suddenly not on the banks of the river, but on an island, trapped, with most of their homes under water or swept away.

Most rural Afghan homes are constructed of mud bricks, mud, or mud plus straw; materials that offer little resistance to floodwaters.

The local Afghan government sent word up through channels that the people needed help beyond what the local authorities could do. The deputy governor of Logman Province coordinated a rescue with Coalition officials,

The helicopters came from America, but the soldiers who organized the airlift were Afghans. A Provincial Reconstruction Team, a team of civilian and military experts in nation-building and what the military calls "civil affairs," teamed up with the Afghan government to take care of the people's needs. After a very short helicopter ride -- only some 300 meters -- the refugees were landed safely on the shore, where more Afghan Army soldiers greeted them with relief supplies.

In all, the helicopters moved 119 threatened civilians to safety. Civilian aid agencies are also taking part to make sure the displaced people have shelter, food and medical attention.

Lt. Col. Jerry O’Hara, a spokesman for CJTF-76, said, "This is a perfect example of the Afghan government, taking the lead, working with Afghan National Army and Coalition forces to save lives."

FMI: www.centcom.mil