A Sad Day

Yesterday was a sad day. Médecins Sans Frontières announced the withdrawal of all their aid workers from Afghanistan after 24 years of continuous healthcare provision in the country. The announcement came after the targetted killing of 5 MSF workers earlier this year followed by the government's lack of response to the killings.

In addition the Taliban unjustly stated that the MSF would continue to be potential targets as they work for American interests. One of the founding MSF principles upholds the separation of aid from political interests - they aim to provide aid on a solely humanitarian basis.

Unfortunately, these principles have been undermined by the US-backed coalition who attempted to "win hearts and minds" by distributing leaflets (May 2004) which essentially blackmails the residents of southern Afghanistan, stating that they must provide the coalition forces with information regarding Taliban and al Qaeda if they wanted the provision of humanitarian aid to continue.

All of this has made the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan impossible. Ultimately it is the impoverished and ill that suffer.
Like I said, a sad day indeed.