The International Committee of the Red Cross has had a presence in Afghanistan since 1987.  During that time, the ICRC has carried out a broad range of humanitarian activities, including supplying and fitting prosthetic limbs.  So far, they have treated over 32,000 amputees.

                                

 

Afghan Lamb Kebab Recipe

 

In 2001, Saira Shah and James Miller made an extraordinary film for Britain's Channel 4 Dispatches series.  Beneath the Veil brought to the world's attention the horrendous executions taking place in Kabul stadium with unprecedented footage secretly captured.  The condemned women in burqas are transported in a red truck to the centre of the pitch where they are executed.

The film, available in five parts on YouTube, also includes excellent images and analysis of Afghanistan under the Taliban rule.

 

 

 

       

Pashtuna               

Traditional

 

 

 Rockingham is effectively a suburb of Perth, lying 46 km southwest of the Western Australia capital. 

It's not clear why Hosseini picked this very average Australian town to praise.  Does he have a personal connection perhaps?