The cost of civilian casualties

The cost of civilian casualties

There are two issues that dominate Afghan views of coalition forces: civilian casualties and night raids.

The problem was left to fester for years to the point that international forces lost a good chunk of credibility.

Erica Gaston is a young American who lives in Kabul and who has documented civilian casualties:

Each and every time, I am asked about what kind of democracy and freedom we were bringing to Afghanistan

There is a vague system of compensation for the victims or their relatives.

It all depends on the generosity of the country, but in general a loss of limb will cost the offending nation about $600 or less, and if your relative has been killed by mistake then you will get up to $2,500.

This is not compensation, because the term would imply an admission of guilt. Instead, depending on which country, it's called ex gratia, out of kindness, condolence or solacia money.

Unfortunately people are poor here and that money can help, at least to cover funeral costs. But many refuse. They find it insulting.

The tragedy is that those $2,000 or $2,500 will be spent, but the widow, the daughter or the son left behind will have an even tougher time making ends.
 
Maybe, one way to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people is to show them that their lives are worth a bit more in the unfortunate case someone was killed, even though no amount of money can ever replace the loss.