BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The Afghan National Army’s 207th Kandak, assisted by Coalition forces, conducted an emergency humanitarian aid mission to Familia village in the Shindand District of Herat Province Jan. 24.
The ANA force responded to Afghan citizens in Herat facing life-threatening winter weather conditions.  The ANA supplied hundreds of pounds of rice, beans, shoes, coats and blankets, which was enough to sustain 100 Afghan families through the winter.
ANA commanders arrived in the village and met with the elders who led the team to the town’s school. The Soldiers distributed humanitarian supplies to the neediest families in the village. With each gift of food, fuel or clothing, villagers expressed their sincere appreciation.
“The appreciation and gratitude shown on the faces of the villagers and the excitement on the children’s faces was priceless,” a participating Coalition soldier said. “Knowing that we were delivering jackets and blankets to help them survive and keep them warm this winter is a feeling I cannot express in words.”
This winter has been especially harsh for villagers in the western provinces of Afghanistan. Severe winter conditions severely limited villagers’ ability to travel and purchase supplies in nearby cities. According to news reports, winter storms in neighboring Ghowr Province have killed more than 40 villagers and thousands of domestic animals. That is why the ANA humanitarian missions to these remote villages are so important.
 “The ANA recognizes the need to provide aid to the less fortunate in the area in continued support of the great relationship already in place with the village,” said a Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman, a Coalition spokesperson. “Villagers surviving on limited resources are struggling significantly during this extended period of extreme cold weather.  Fortunately the Afghan National Security Forces provided essential assistance, making a huge difference in terms of their survival, especially for the children and elderly.”

The Afghan National Army’s 207th Kandak, assisted by Coalition forces, conducted an emergency humanitarian aid mission to Familia Village, Shindand District, Herat Province, Jan. 24. The ANA-led force responded to an emerging need for basic supplies from the village elders, supplying hundreds of pounds of rice, beans, shoes, coats and blankets to help the villagers get through the winter. 

The Afghan National Army’s 207th Kandak, assisted by Coalition forces, conducted an emergency humanitarian aid mission to Familia Village, Shindand District, Herat Province, Jan. 24. The ANA-led force responded to an emerging need for basic supplies from the village elders, supplying hundreds of pounds of rice, beans, shoes, coats and blankets to help the villagers get through the winter.

The Afghan National Army’s 207th Kandak, assisted by Coalition forces, conducted an emergency humanitarian aid mission to Familia Village, Shindand District, Herat Province, Jan. 24. The ANA-led force responded to an emerging need for basic supplies from the village elders, supplying hundreds of pounds of rice, beans, shoes, coats and blankets to help the villagers get through the winter.

The Afghan National Army’s 207th Kandak, assisted by Coalition forces, conducted an emergency humanitarian aid mission to Familia Village, Shindand District, Herat Province, Jan. 24. The ANA-led force responded to an emerging need for basic supplies from the village elders, supplying hundreds of pounds of rice, beans, shoes, coats and blankets to help the villagers get through the winter.