KABUL - With every Western bomb that falls on a civilian target in Kabul the mood among those once disillusioned with the Taliban worsens against the United States. When Washington began its aerial onslaught against Afghanistan nearly three weeks ago to flush out Osama bin Laden some Kabul residents privately relished the prospect of the ruling Muslim Taliban‘s swift demise. But as the campaign dragged on with mounting civilian casualties, attitudes towards Washington hardened. The United States says it targets only military installations but the hardline Taliban say hundreds of civilians across the country have been killed.

Doctors at Kabul hospitals put the toll from the strikes at at least 25 killed and dozens wounded. Many are no stranger to the horrors of urban warfare. They fear they will be unable to cope with mounting casualties. They are short of medicine, clean water and electricity. „During the previous war in Kabul we had similar problems, but then foreign agencies were here to help us. Borders were open and staff was getting through,“ says surgeon Ajab Gul. „And now we have a small generator, but not fuel for it to do the operation and warm the wards as the weather is getting cooler day by day,“ he adds.

At the children‘s hospital where about 30 wounded youngsters have been brought since the raids began doctor Bashir Ahmad is trying to operate in 19th-century conditions. „There is some help coming from a couple of aid agencies, sufficient to keep the hospital going for the moment. But it will be difficult to operate like doctors when we have more patients if the situation gets more nastier,“ Ahmad said.

Outside the hospital Kabul‘s long-suffering residents try to get on with life. The streets are crowded during the day, empty at night when the raids begin. „Our life is like that of the early days of mankind,“ says one resident, Attaullah, 48. „There is no school, food, water and medicine or power in hospitals. All of these are probably not the result of America‘s attacks, but they seem to have compounded the problems and will continue to do so if this war goes on more.“

Reuters