Afghanistan

Press, 25 February 1989, Page 24

Afghanistan

Sir,—Keen letter writers used to write to you urging the Russians to get out of Afghanistan (ignoring the American presence there, of course). I hope these same people are now giving lots of money to help the starving and sick children there who are in a much worse situation since the Soviet withdrawal. The "Washington Post" quotes a United Nations spokesman as saying that the population of Kabul, which has doubled over the war years as refugees left the countryside, includes one million displaced people with no cash, no jobs and no housing. Afghanistan has long been one of the poorest of world nations, but now 80 per cent of children are malnourished, according to the doctor heading the malnutrition unit at Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Kabul. He says they need powdered milk, wheat, oils,

powdered eggs and other foods. Meanwhile the huge C.1.A.-Pakis-tani Afghan war budget is still being spent on arms and escorting these ot the Mujahideen to keep the war going. No withdrawal of the Americans, yet. Just starvation of the poor children who are the pawns in this power game, which many say is to protect the drug route. — Yours, etc., (Mrs) LYN L. MILNES. February 21, 1989.