February 21, 2002	Thursday	Zilhaj 8, 1422

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NOWSHERA, Feb 20: A Canadian non-governmental organization has decided, in principle, to set up three trauma centres at the refugee camps to treat Afghans who suffered from mental illnesses due to the more than 20-year-long war and  the unrelenting US-led bombardment on Afghanistan.

The International Canada Human Concern organized a two-day seminar at the new Afghan refugee camp in Akora Khattak on Monday and Tuesday. It was largely attended by Afghan refugees living in the camp, which has a population of 25,000.

Dr Winta Wintakir, Dr Elizabeth and Dr Barbars from Canada, Dr Arshad Hussain, Dr Kaleem Akhtar and social workers presented their papers.

The Canadian doctors revealed that $20 million had been spent on the education and health care of Afghan refugees in the NWFP from 1980 to 2002. They said the NGO would set up three trauma centres, one at the Akora Khattak camp, for the treatment of Afghans who suffered untold misery and mental stress during the war.