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February 18, 2010

As US Seizes Marjah, UN Rejects “Militarization” of Aid
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In Afghanistan, a top United Nations official is criticizing the US-led
NATO force for “the militarization of humanitarian aid.” Speaking in
Kabul, the deputy special representative of the secretary general,
Robert Watkins, said UN agencies in Afghanistan won’t take part in the
US-led reconstruction strategy for the town of Marjah, where NATO has
launched a major offensive. The UN has opposed plans for the US military
to oversee aid distribution in Afghan towns. Watkins said, “We are not
part of that process, we do not want to be part of it. We will not be
part of that military strategy.” The US military says it’s now in
control of Marjah and plans to install a new local government within
weeks.



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