Advocates urge NATO funds to alleviate suffering of Afghan civilians

In advance of a meeting of NATO defence ministers, human rights organisations are urging member states to provide monetary aid for civilians harmed during combat operations in Afghanistan.

At issue is the Post-Operations Humanitarian Relief Fund, which was created in late 2006 by NATO members to assist communities harmed during significant military operations in Afghanistan. Money from the fund provides immediate relief: supplying food, water and medicine or repairing damaged buildings and infrastructure.

According to the most recent NATO fact sheet, six countries - Australia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania and the Netherlands - have contributed a total of just under EUR1 million (USD1.48 million) to the fund; the Czech Republic, Iceland and Lithuania have pledged additional funds.

Most recently, US President George W Bush signed an appropriations bill in late December 2007 that included a USD2 million contribution to the NATO fund.

In a 22 January statement, Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict Executive Director Sarah Holewinski said: "The war in Afghanistan is a war of perception. When civilians are unintentionally harmed, NATO countries should by now realise the importance of dignifying their suffering with help." 216 of 568 words