Residents Still Suffer from Aftermath of MOAB
TOLOnews
ACHIN, Afghanistan (January 5, 2023) — In April 2017, the US Defense Department announced that it dropped its most powerful non-nuclear bomb in Momand Dara village in Achin.
The residents of Achin district in the eastern province of Nangarhar province said they are still suffering from the aftermath of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) dropped by the US forces in the district in 2017.
The residents said they could not reconstruct their homes destroyed in the bombing.
In April 2017, the US Defense Department announced that it dropped its most powerful non-nuclear bomb in Momand Dara village in Achin.
The residents called for the implementation of development projects in the district.
“Nearly 30 houses were destroyed in the bombing and dozens of others around them were damaged,” said Omid, a resident of Momand Dara.
“One or two families have returned. Others don’t have the ability to reconstruct their homes. Some families are living under the tents,” said Saleem, a resident of Kabul.
The only transit route to the district is through Khama district and the closest health center is located within 8 kilometers, according to the residents.
After six years, the residents said severe impacts of the bombing are still visible in the area, including diseases among the residents, livestock and agriculture.
“Our harvests were affected by the bombing. We don’t earn good corps no matter what we cultivate,” said Jamil Khan, a resident of Momand Dara.
“Some diseases among the residents have increased such as skin problems, cardiac diseases and others. We have complained to the UN in this regard. The bombing has inflicted heavy damage on us,” said Mohammad Sadiq, a tribal elder.
Local officials vowed to implement development projects to benefit the residents.
“We want to serve the people through our own budget and cooperation of the organizations,” said Esmatullah Mubariz, head of the Urban Development Department of Nangarhar.
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