Helmand Refugees Fleeing Ahead of Anti-Taliban Offensive, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 8 February 2010
EXCERPT: "Hundreds of Afghan families have been fleeing Taliban-controlled territory in the southern Afghan province of Helmand ahead of an expected offensive by NATO and Afghan government troops. As many as 2,000 Taliban fighters reportedly are concentrated and fortifying themselves in and around the town of Marjah. Fearful of being caught in the violence, some residents are heading for Helmand's provincial capital of Lashkar Gah or places in neighboring Kandahar province that they consider to be relatively safe. At the central bus station in Lashkar Gah, buses arriving straight from the town of Marjah have been packed full of the displaced in recent days. Meanwhile, many trucks can be seen along the road -- loaded with furniture, home appliances, and other personal belongings of fleeing families. Mauwla Dad, a truck driver from Marjah, tells RFE/RL he has made more than a dozen recent journeys, shuttling families and their belongings to safe haven. A Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent in Helmand Province reports that villagers also are escaping to the nearby districts of Baba-ji, Nad-Ali, and Gereshk."
Read the full story.
Related articles:
NATO, Afghans to hold Taliban bastion "forever" , Reuters, 8 February 2010
Afghan displaced face harsh winter (video), Al Jazeera, 7 February 2010
Taliban prepares for major NATO offensive in Afghanistan, VOA News, 7 February 2010
Why are US allies telling Taliban about coming offensive?, Miami Herald, 5 February 2010
NATO takes page out of Canadians’ offensive playbook in Afghanistan, The National Post, 4 February 2010
Related posts:
US and British to launch biggest offensive since 2001, 3 February 2010
Helmand handover to begin next year, 12 November 2009
Securing Helmand, 29 September 2009
Taliban grip on Helmand remains strong, 7 May 2009
Assessing counterinsurgency and stabilization missions, 4 May 2009
