Aid workers disappointed over report on Canadian role in Afghanistan

Published: 2008-01-30

TORONTO (CNS) -- Aid workers, church groups and peace activists expressed disappointment over an independent panel's report on Canada's future role in Afghanistan. Several aid workers expressed worry that the government-appointed panel's approach to development could result in the murder and kidnapping of project staff and the targeting of communities where they work by the extremist Islamic Taliban movement. "We do feel there is a risk of blurring the distinction between humanitarian work and military work," said Paul Hicks, head of programs for the U.S. bishops' Catholic Relief Services in Afghanistan. It's not just the aid workers who are at risk because of the visible link between military objectives and development work, but Afghan villages as well, said Hicks. "Communities have to be very careful about being seen to be cooperating with international forces because of the retaliation that may come about," Hicks said.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .