ANA, ISAF assist Kandahar City bombing victims

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

02.17.2008

Courtesy Story

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan – Feb. 17, Afghan national army and Internation Security Assitance Force Soldiers assisted scores of Afghan citizens who had been seriously injured in a tragic explosion that occurred in the Arghandab District of Kandahar province at approximately 10:30 a.m.

While final numbers have not been confirmed by Afghan authorities at this time, it is known that a significant number of Afghan citizens were killed and wounded in the attack.

"We strongly condemn this cowardly attack on the civilian population," said Maj. Gen. Marc Lessard, commander of Regional Command South. "We praise the quick, effective and professional actions of the Afghan emergency services, the Afghan National Police and the ANA in reacting to this attack."

The wounded citizens were evacuated from the scene by Afghan authorities to the Mir Wais Hospital in Kandahar City. As in any incident of this size, the Mir Wais Hospital was quickly filled to capacity and the ANA was asked to assist.

As a result, 26 Afghan civilians were evacuated to the ANA hospital at Camp Hero near Kandahar Airfield, south of the city. Once Afghan soldiers were informed of the incident, dozens of them went to the ANA hospital to help and to offer donations of blood.

ISAF was made aware of the incident shortly after it occurred and quickly volunteered to assist. Given the extent of the injuries of some of the Afghans brought to the ANA hospital, several of them were transferred to the ISAF medical facility at KAF for additional treatment. In the end, 16 wounded Afghans were brought to KAF and are currently being treated at the ISAF medical facility.

"We are following this situation very closely and I have directed that ISAF forces in southern Afghanistan provide maximum support to the Afghan authorities in dealing with this tragedy," said Lessard. "The Afghan authorities and Afghan national security forces are leading the investigation of this incident and we stand ready to offer ISAF support to that investigation if required."

• Date Taken: 02.17.2008
• Date Posted: 02.17.2008 14:08
• Story ID: 16444
• Location: KABUL, AF