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."