What is MSF doing to help the squatters?
MSF is trying to help some 1,500 families make it through the winter, and they are completely dependent on the temporary assistance we provide – heating materials, blankets, ground sheets, and medical care. We are urging other humanitarian agencies to act, as well, to help those that we cannot. Many people tell our teams that they want to set out again to Iran or Pakistan, because they did not expect to find such an awful situation in Kabul. They thought there would be more assistance. Others have asked us to talk with the Afghan and municipal authorities about the need for land so they can build houses. Here one enters into very political decision-making arenas, because most everyone tends to deny the squatters’ existence or at least minimize the crisis they’re in. Q: What is the situation like for civilians in the rest of Afghanistan? Afghanistan is still a country at war. MSF does not have access to those areas where military operations are still being conducted, mainly in the south
