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Sharana PRT spends Christmas providing winter aid to Afghan village

  • Published
  • By Chief Barbara M. Holmgren
  • Sharana Provincial Reconstruction Team
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan --  The Sharana Provincial Reconstruction Team spent their Christmas Day providing humanitarian aid to the town of Sera Kala the in the Sharana District of Paktika province, Afghanistan.

Residents of the town make a meager living, just barely able to put food on the table and clothes on their backs. They worry about how they are going to keep their families warm during the cold winter months.

The Sharana PRT, along with members of the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) combined with elements of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police for the mission. They made the one hour journey to Sera Kala from Forward Operating Base Sharana with much needed food, winter clothing, medical supplies, radios, coats, and even some toys for the children.

As the convoy pulled into town, curious onlookers spilled into the streets to see what was happening and groups of children eagerly approached the Soldiers. Crowds of young and old gathered around the ANA soldiers and ANP as they handed out the items.

Nearly 400 people gathered from Sera Kala and the neighboring villages. With the bone chilling winters, the blankets and winter clothing distributed may make the difference between life and death for some residents in this region. Village elders worked with the ANA and ANP to ensure the items were distributed fairly.

In the distance, a child no more than three years old stood alone, weathering the cold morning air. She had no shoes, coat, hat or gloves to protect her from the elements.

"My heart was literally breaking to see her there with no winter clothing on," said Staff Sgt. Zalima Shaver, a member of the Sharana PRT. "She was so tough."

Members of the aid distribution team saw to her needs and provided her with warm clothing, a stuffed teddy bear and a backpack filled with other items. Unfortunately there were no shoes in the lot to fit her. An extra pair of socks was the best they could do for her that day.

With their truck emptied, the service members of FOB Sharana began the journey back to base.

"I was so glad to see [the people] getting warm things, especially the kids," said Shaver.