Emergency UK
EMERGENCY UK is a UK based organization devoted to the promotion of a culture of solidarity, peace and respect for human rights.
EMERGENCY UK provides support to projects that offer free, high quality medical and surgical treatment for the victims of war and poverty.
News and Updates
Milan, July 29, 2010
It's a pleasure to inform you that Surgical Centre in Lashkar-gah reopened this morning, Thursday 29th.
Negotiations and talks with local authorities have occured over the past weeks, but the situation came to a turning point only a bunch of hours ago.
EMERGENCY has been present in Afghanistan since 1999 with three surgical centres, a maternity centre, and 28 first aid posts.
EMERGENCY has been present in Lashkar-gah since 2004 with one surgical centre for victims of war where more than 66,000 people have been treated free of charge.
afghanistan: February, 21th
Fazel Mohammed has two blue eyes that speak for themselves. His small body is already full of scars; souvenirs from times lost at play and from illnesses that we haven’t known for years now on our side of the world.
One of the few places still unharmed on his body were his knees. But while playing outdoors, a bullet threw him to the ground and left its mark on them forever.
Thanks to his uncle, he reached us three days after injury since he could not leave his house in Marjah before then.
Now he will have two nice scars where that cursed piece of metal, travelling at an absurd speed entered and exited his knee.
He is already on his feet, and wants to go home. He’s worried about his family.
He seems like a man, yet he’s only 10 years old.
At 10, our children are in 5th grade. They aren’t risking their lives in war.
Matteo, medical coordinator, Lashkar-gah
afghanistan: February, 20th
Khudainazar is a vivacious 11 year old boy. He was outside his home in Nadali filling water tanks. Suddenly he felt an intense burning sensation. He dropped the water he was carrying.
He got to our hospital after overcoming numerous feats and an exhausting trip. The bullet entered the left side of his groin and went completely through his right gluteus. A bullet fired by ‘foreigners in war garb’. But, it’s not Mardi Gras here. Thankfully, no vital organs were damaged. We even had a hard time believing that.
As soon as he got here he asked about Akter, the young boy who arrived here two days ago with the bullet wound to the head. He’s a friend. They’re neighbors. They always play together.
I just hope that one day they’ll be able to talk together about their tribulations with a cup of tea in hand and without the sounds of war outside ─ sounds that will finally be gone forever.
Matteo, medical coordinator, Lashkar-gah
afghanistan: February, 19th
Gulaly has beautifully braided dark hair and bright blue eyes. She was in front of her home in Dilaram, another village not far beyond the Grishk district, where she was tending to a few animals; like those most Afghans own that allow them to survive.
She heard the sounds of war getting closer and she saw her little brother straying afar. She dashed towards him, scooped him up into her arms and ran back home. As soon as she got there, sitting down, she felt a terrible shooting pain along with an intense burning sensation on her right side.
Her mother took a closer look and saw a hole in her daughter’s clothes and blood. Turning her she saw another hole in her back, and more blood.
Her father got her into the car, her uncle’s car, but they only advanced a few meters before they were stopped. They couldn’t go through. The foreigners said it’s late. So they brought her back into the house, and listened to her cries and laments all night long.
Early the next morning they finally managed to get through. Gulalay arrived at the EMERGENCY Surgical Centre in Lashkar-Gah in the early afternoon hours; almost 24 hours after receiving the bullet wound. She immediately underwent surgery, and aside the drainage, is now doing well. But she doesn’t feel like smiling.
Gulalay is 12 years old.
The umpteenth case of “collateral damage”.
Matteo, medical coordinator, Lashkar-gah
afghanistan: February, 18th
Even in Nadali, another district not far from EMERGENCY’s hospital in Lashkar Gah, the battle has been going on for days.
Even there, peace and democracy are on the way.
Akter Mohammed arrived just a short while ago with his father Wali Jan, a man in his sixties with a full white beard.
A bullet, a single bullet, was shot through his head from one side to the other. He’s still alive and undergoing surgery.
His father was shouting and pounding his chest.
Not only for what they had done to his son, but for how they had done it.
Akter was in his own home behind a sunlit window.
With all the sounds of tanks and shooting, curiosity pushed him to take a closer look at what was happening outside.
A soldier caught a glimpse of a figure at a window and took one shot.
One shot to the head.
Then, the soldiers broke into the house yelling and forcing the father to raise his hands; throwing him against the wall.
In a corner under the window, they saw the result of that one shot fired at the figure in the window.
A little nine year old boy. Nine years old.
As soon as they saw him on the floor wounded, they ran out. Not one word uttered.
Not even a dog is left like that.
Matteo, medical coordinator, Lashkar-gah
afghanistan: February, 17th
She’s dark with thick ebony black hair.
Timidly and without a word, she reached our emergency room.
She was helping with the housework in her home in Marjah.
She went out for a moment to get a pail of water, and in an instant found herself on the ground.
A bullet had perforated her right knee, and blew up the lower part of her thigh.
Her relatives brought her back into the house, where she remained in pain and suffering without treatment for a day and a half.
Then, she was evacuated by helicopter and brought to our hospital.
Now she’s in a clean bed. She underwent surgery and her leg is being maintained in traction. She lies alongside other boys and girls; all of them are being treated and cared for by qualified personnel.
Like each one of us now, she hears the sounds of war all day long. But, at least she’s here. Meanwhile, in the districts many people are succumbing to the inhuman violence of the war without being able to receive treatment.
Who knows if Roqia (that’s her name), 12 ‘Afghan’ years old, is happy not even knowing if her family is alive. Someone has yet to come see her. It’s difficult to leave those villages.
In any case, the ‘great military operation is moving forward beautifully’…
Matteo, medical coordinator, Laskar-gah
afghanistan: February, 15th
Said Rahman arrived at EMERGENCY's hospital in Lashkar-gah on February 14th.
Early that morning, while in his garden, he was wounded with a direct shot to the chest.
He wasn't patrolling the area. He wasn't fighting. He wasn't pointing at anyone.
Said Rahman didn't even see where the bullet came from. The bullet, still lodged in his body, penetrated his right lung.
All he felt was a strong burning sensation, and then he fainted from the pain.
He was taken to Lashkar-gah in quite unstable condition, with his holding a brand-new teddy bear; a gift from “democracy”.
He looked as if he had a hump on his back from all the blood that had accumulated there.
He underwent surgery immediately. Two thoracic drains, almost bigger than him, were inserted.
Because he's seven years old. Seven.
This is the "great military operation", the greatest.
Matteo, medical coordinator, Lashkar-gah
14th February 2010
Nobel Peace and Criminals of War
Since yesterday, the Surgical Centre run by the Italian Ngo EMERGENCY in Lashkar-gah, in southern Afghanistan, has been anticipating the arrival of victims of the bombings carried out by anglo-american forces, that for two days now have been targeting the village of Marjah, located about 50 km southwest of the capital of Helmand province.
Our staff has been notified that dozens of seriously injured civilian victims are unable to be transferred to hospitals due to military blockades which are impeding vehicles transporting injured victims. As of this morning, six victims died because their evacuation was hindered. Among the few who were able to reach the EMERGENCY Surgical Centre was a 7 year old boy with a bullet wound to the chest and who immediately underwent surgery.
EMERGENCY denounces these severe war crimes perpetrated by the international coalition of forces led by the United States, and calls for a humanitarian route be opened in order to guarantee immediate assistance to the wounded.
For additional information and interviews, contact:
EMERGENCY UK
PO Box 62437
London
E14 1GA
UK
Tel: +44 (0)333 340 6411 Fax: +44 (0) 333 340 6499