Families of Ghor protest victims call for fair aid distribution

Monitoring Desk

GHOR: Relatives of those killed and wounded during a protest in Ghor say they want a fair distribution of bread. The demonstrations have continued, as many Afghans are struggling with basic necessities–especially in rural areas–amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Six people, including two policemen, were killed in an earlier protest–and over 20 others were wounded–when residents took to the streets on Saturday demanding that foreign aid be distributed evenly.

Ziba, a wife of one of the victims, said her husband Tayyib was going to the hospital when he was hit by a bullet and died at the hospital’s entrance. “We all had gone to the hospital with my husband and children when the protests started. I lost my son. And a bullet hit my husband,” Ziba said.

“We are from displaced families and we roam from one house to another. What will I do now that I have lost my brother?” said Mohammad Musa, Tayyib’s brother. Some of those wounded in Saturday’s incident said that they were out simply looking for work to buy food for themselves and their families.

“I was out for work. I was near the Salahuddin Saljoqi High School with my friend. Suddenly a (military) tank came and opened fire on me and I don’t remember what happened next,” said Yaqoot Shah, a Ghor resident who was wounded in the protest.

The rally was held to protest “unjust” distribution of pandemic relief to the needy families in Ghor, said participants.

In response, the governor of the province, Ghulam Naser Khaze, said the authorities are making efforts to benefit all the needy families with the aid.

“The plan called for the distribution of bread to 3,000 families, but now, based on the president’s demand, an additional 2,000 families will also receive bread, which means that over 5,000 families will be benefited,” he said. (TOLOnews)