Bin Laden death scars Pakistan: Red Cross
Source: Agencies |
July 12, 2011, Tuesday
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CASUALTIES from violence across Pakistan since the American killing of Osama bin Laden in May have soared, with many more maimed and injured people going to humanitarian clinics, the ICRC said yesterday.
Pascal Cuttat, outgoing head of operations in the country for the Swiss-based International Committee of the Red Cross, told reporters in Geneva another effect of bin Laden's death was an increased suspicion of foreigners, including aid workers.
"Violence has increased considerably since bin Laden was killed, and has spread into urban areas. We are seeing increasing numbers coming into our medical and orthopedic centers, more than we have seen for many years."
The al-Qaida leader was shot in May by US Navy Seals who landed by helicopter at his secret compound in Abbotabad, north of Karachi.
Pakistan has complained that the operation was a violation of its sovereignty and relations between the two long-time allies have nosedived. The United States has suspended a third of its military aid to Islamabad.
Cuttat, who spent three years overseeing ICRC operations in Pakistan, where the humanitarian body has been present for more than half a century, said he did not see much change in the current climate in the foreseeable future. "We are planning for much of the same," he said.
Although the ICRC would like to extend its operations, bureaucratic obstacles from Pakistan authorities were making it more difficult for foreigners to move around.
"We are consistently facing suspicion of any foreigner working in the country ... To live and work and get permission to do anything has become more difficult. Everyone is struggling with the bureaucracy," Cuttat added.
Pascal Cuttat, outgoing head of operations in the country for the Swiss-based International Committee of the Red Cross, told reporters in Geneva another effect of bin Laden's death was an increased suspicion of foreigners, including aid workers.
"Violence has increased considerably since bin Laden was killed, and has spread into urban areas. We are seeing increasing numbers coming into our medical and orthopedic centers, more than we have seen for many years."
The al-Qaida leader was shot in May by US Navy Seals who landed by helicopter at his secret compound in Abbotabad, north of Karachi.
Pakistan has complained that the operation was a violation of its sovereignty and relations between the two long-time allies have nosedived. The United States has suspended a third of its military aid to Islamabad.
Cuttat, who spent three years overseeing ICRC operations in Pakistan, where the humanitarian body has been present for more than half a century, said he did not see much change in the current climate in the foreseeable future. "We are planning for much of the same," he said.
Although the ICRC would like to extend its operations, bureaucratic obstacles from Pakistan authorities were making it more difficult for foreigners to move around.
"We are consistently facing suspicion of any foreigner working in the country ... To live and work and get permission to do anything has become more difficult. Everyone is struggling with the bureaucracy," Cuttat added.
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