Page 7 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • August 2002
Afghan aid worker appeals for attacks to stop
Aid worker Sahar Gul from Afghanistan, who visited Edward and Stephanie Glennie in Westlea in early
July, wants the USA to stop bombing his country. Before returning to Pakistan he provided an insider's
view to his work, life under the Taliban and the current needs of his country.
Sahar met Edward many ince in Afghanistan, where he
years ago when he worked as has organised schooling for 300
an engineer in Pakistan. He's children. He said they come
a Pakistani, brought up in from very poor families who
Peshawar, whose parents otherwise would be sent out to
come from Afghanistan. beg. They are each given a uni-
Over the last 15 years he has form, school books, and enough
worked for several aid organi- money to buy food for them-
sations on both sides of the selves and their families.
Khyber Pass, and is currently "About Rs.1000 (£12) pays for
with the German charity Ham- a uniform and a relief package.
mer Forum. Books have been provided by
Peshawar is the frontier city the North West Frontier Prov-
on the Pakistani side of the ince of Pakistan. My role is to
pass. Surrounded by refugee Sahar with Edward and Stephanie organise education, while my
camps, it is base for organisa- colleague provides vocational COOPERS
tions of all kinds with an active He experienced life under the training for the parents."
interest in Afghanistan. Taliban, and valued the security Uruzgan is the province where CHEMIST
"We provide medical help for and the respect for women that 40 people were killed recently in a
children from the Afghan war their government provided. misdirected US bombing raid. WEST SWINDON CENTRE
zones," said Sahar. "Some we meet While he does not condone many When asked what he would like Fine fragrances, toiletries,
in Peshawar, others we go to find aspects of the Taliban era, such as to say to Link magazine readers, ear piercing etc.
in Afghanistan. The most common the destruction of theBuddhisthis- Sahar replied, 'tell the USA to stop APS, developing & printing
injuries are from exploding mines, torical sites, he believes that the bombarding Afghanistan' before
bomb blast, burns and gas poison- US intervention was a combina- extending an invitation to visit his One free 35mm 24 exp film
ing. Some are treated in Peshawar, tion of brute force and ignorance country. "Please come and see for with every 35mm roll
but those with the most complex that has continued the destruction yourselves, and enjoy our hospi- developed on the premises
injuries are flown to Germany for of Afghan life, and has alienated tality, our food; Afghanistan is fa- Tel: 872033
free treatment." local people. He believes there mous for its fruit and honey — and
Now that Kabul is more accessi- were more effective and less bru- our way of life." Open 7 days a week
ble, the children are often treated tal ways to seek out Al Qaida. Edward and Stephanie Glennie
there. However, Sahar has mixed Sahar returned to Pakistan the on 872578 would be very pleased Mon - Fri 9am - 8pm,
feelings about the events of the last day after the photograph above to tell you more, and pass on ques- Sat 9am - 6pm, Sun 1 Oam - 3pm
year was taken to visit Uruzgan prov- tions to Sahar.