Kabul

[S Chatterjee <schatterjee2001@xxxxxxxxx>]

Kabul's poorest have no respite from bombs

Kabul, Oct 14

Only the poorest of the poor in the desperately impoverished Afghan
capital remained in the city Sunday as constant US air raids spread fear
and panic among a normally stoic people.

"Believe me, whenever there's a raid my children start crying. Last night
even I cried with them," said Mohammad Nabi, 41, an auto spare parts
salesman in the Qwaee Markaz area of Kabul.

"When women and children scream in the middle of the night, that is
terrifying enough in iteslf."

As US jets buzzed overhead night and day, whether on bombing runs or
surveillance missions to identify fresh targets, those who could not
afford to leave were trying to find shelter wherever they could.

Shopkeepers have moved their stocks to the countryside or boarded up their
windows. "We fear our goods could be looted if there is anarchy," said one
merchant who did not want to be named.

Taxi drivers said the city was becoming a ghost town. "No one remains in
the whole of Kabul to hire a taxi. I have been moving around the city all
day to find a client but it has become very difficult." said 38-year-old
Mushtaba as he sat in his rusty cab.

"Only those people who get around on foot or bicycle remain in the city.
After a month you won't see anybody in the city. They may die or leave."

The Pentagon confirmed Saturday that a 2,000-pound bomb mistakenly struck
a residential area near Kabul, apparently after a wrong digit was entered
as the target's coordinates.

Instead of hitting a military helicopter at Kabul airport, about a mile
from the residential area, it landed in an area of traditional Afghan mud
houses. Up to four civilians died, and dozens were left homeless in a city
where hundreds of thousands already rely on foreign aid to eat.

"I do not know whether they are going to eliminate the terrorists or
create them. We are not terrorists, they have been forcing us to become
terrorists," said auto parts salesman Nabi, who used to be a school
teacher.

"There could be other alternatives. Bombardments won't be the sole
solution. They should view other options."

....... Full article at

http://headlines.sify.com/111news3.html



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