Afghanistan Blog

In Kabul, Afghanistan, Jamalo, age 14, from Ghazni sits in her wheelchair outside the International Red Cross Orthopedic (ICRC) rehabilitation center, Nov. 21, 2009. Jamalo is now a paraplegic, crippled after her home became a battlefield during a violent attack between the Taliban and U.S forces over five months ago. She was inside her home during the attack when a rocket hit, killing four family members including her sister. She broke her arm and was hit by shrapnel. Ghazni is a Taliban-infested area so as a young handicapped female she has little hope of education or even marriage. A recent U.N. report has described 2009 as the deadliest year in terms of civilian casualties in Afghanistan since the start of the U.S.-led war against the Taliban in the country.

Both burn victims, Asan Bibi, 9, (R) and her sister Salima, 13, (L) stand in the hallway of Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar, Oct. 13, 2009. A helicopter fired into their tent in the middle of the night on Oct. 3, according to their father. Three members of the family were killed in the incident. They belong to the Kuchi ethnic tribe, who are nomads living in tents out in the open desert and are very vulnerable to a war of which they have little understanding. Mirwais Hospital, the largest regional medical facility in the area, supported by the ICRC and the Afghan government, caters to most of the war wounded in the most hostile part of the country. A recent U.N. report has described 2009 as the deadliest year in terms of civilian casualties in Afghanistan ever since the start of the U.S.-led war against the Taliban. In his latest report presented to the Pentagon, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander, emphasized the need for winning the hearts and minds of the Afghans. The Taliban are now staging suicide attacks and IED blasts in densely populated areas to create a bigger impact as more of Afghan's war wounded hit the headlines.

In Kabul, Bibi Adela, age 15, from Khost waits for physical therapy on her amputated leg at the International Red Cross Orthopedic (ICRC) rehabilitation center, Nov. 21, 2009. Bibi lost her leg below the knee from a rocket attack five months ago that killed her sister and brother, injuring her mother as well. A recent U.N. report has described 2009 as the deadliest year in terms of civilian casualties in Afghanistan since the start of the U.S.-led war against the Taliban in the country.