Wednesday, June 20, 2007

** Under siege Afghan civilians form own ambulance service

** US military medics aid in saving abused Iraqi boys

AFGHANISTAN NEWS

** Residents beseiged by the latest NATO offensive in Uruzgan province have established a makeshift ambulance service to treat civilian wounded. That is the word from the Washington Post (Griff Witte/Javed Hamdard/June 19) which said the volunteers, functioning in a remote mountainous area, have treated 30 wounded patients so far. The care comes at a time when some 60 insurgents and three allied soldiers have died in the fighting. Uruzgan provincial council head Mulvi Hamdullah said providing EMS care became necessary after Afghan and NATO forces failed to assist in transporting the injured to hospital.

IRAQ NEWS

** US soldiers and military medics patrolling central Baghdad last week are being credited with saving the lives of several abused and disabled children. CBS News (June 18) said the 82nd Airborne Division group rescued 24 isolated, malnourished, and  special needs boys after happening upon a government run orphanage. Soldiers at the site told reporters all of the children were naked, with some having been tied to their beds. Caregivers, meanwhile, remained in the next room tending to meal time preparation for others outside the building.  A US military spokesman said the boys had been enduring the treatment for close to a month.