Taliban Steals Food From Afghan Civilians
KHAS ORUZGAN, Afghanistan - An estimated 50 Taliban members stole a stockpile of United Nations World Food Program goods intended for Afghan civilians in the Khas Oruzgan District of Oruzgan Province on May 25.
The thieves, under the cover of darkness, took bulk food, clothing and survival items intended for thousands of Afghan civilians living in the District. Maliks and village elders protested the crime and reported the incident to Afghan National Security and Coalition forces operating in the area. ANSF and Coalition forces are coordinating with local government officials to track down the Taliban criminals and recover the stolen goods.
UNWFP is the United Nations front-line agency in the fight against global hunger. Their aim is to provide 525 metric tons of food aid to 6.6 million Afghans through various projects and programs by December 2008. The agency focuses on relief and resettlement for internally displaced persons and refugees including food for work and education programs. Over the past 11 months, there have been 16 incidents in which UNWFP convoys have been attacked by enemy fighters with the intent of depriving aid to hundreds of thousands of Afghan civilians. There have been seven convoy attacks that have occurred since the month of April.
“Taliban fighters are criminals attempting to oppress and deprive Afghan civilians of needed aid,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force-82 spokesperson. “Afghan National Security and Coalition forces, with the support of the Afghan populace, will rid Afghanistan of its enemies and bring peace and stability to the country.”
