War in Afghanistan

One of our medics in Afghanistan works in a hospital, and mentioned the patients they see who are children. I offered to have our "Operation Outreach" team send toys, games, clothing and shoes for them. The answer will stay with me...
-Rog

The toy issue.....got time for a story?.....the nurses used to load up kids in the hospital with toys, the family and child said their goodbye's and left the facility. A week later, the whole family was killed.....there was an informant in their community that knew the child was treated by the American's by the toys the child brought home (Afghan children do not play with conventional toys)....and the killings were a reminder to the village that the Taliban was still around....so we have a policy not to give any children anything that resembles a toy....I know...it a sad day in the world when you can't give a child a toy to comfort them with, but it may just save their life, and the lives of their family......

Please, thank them, but I would not like to start collecting toys, in fear that someone will try to "sneak" one to a child....so the nurses give them candy, sugar is sugar..and they don’t leave the hospital with it........

Again, thank you.....

Respectfully,

J