NATO Forces Blocking Movement of Wounded Afghan Civilians

The US is coming under increasing criticism over the rise in civilian casualties during the operation. At least nineteen civilians have been killed so far, including six children who died when a missile struck their house on the outskirts of the city. The military initially claimed the rocket went off course but on Tuesday, the commander of British forces in southern Afghanistan, Major-General Nick Carter, said the missile had hit its intended target.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the governor of Helmand proivince said that more 1,200 families had been displaced and evacuated from Marjah and claimed all had received aid in the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah.

But the Italian NGO Emergency released a statement saying dozens of seriously injured civilians are being prevented from reaching its hospital in Lashkar Gah due to NATO military blockades.

Yesterday we spoke with the medical coordinator of the Emergency Lashkar-gah hospital. Matteo dell’Aira is a nurse who was been working in Afghanistan for the past ten years.

Matteo dell’Aira, medical coordinator of the Emergency Lashkar-gah hospital and nurse working in Afghanistan for the past ten years.