PESHAWAR, Nov 5: Renowned social worker, Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi expressed fear on Sunday that about 1.5 million people might die in war-ravaged Afghanistan due to non-availability of basic health facilities there.

Speaking at a press conference here after returning from Afghanistan, Edhi said that the poor people of Afghanistan were suffering for want of medical facilities. “So, Edhi Foundation has decided to start providing basic health-related facilities inside Afghanistan,” he informed.

In this connection, he said, they held negotiations with the the Taliban and asked them to provide land to establish a camp at Sarshahi near Jalalabad. He is hoping that the Taliban would respond to his request soon.

Mr Edhi said that foreign aid agencies hesitate to work inside Afghanistan because of the fear of US bombing. But, he said that not only did he visit Afghanistan he also wants to work there. He said: “Afghans are our brothers and we cannot separate ourselves from them”.

About his future plans, he said that after the restoration of peace in Afghanistan he intended to establish hospitals and orphanages there.

Mr Edhi condemned the killing of innocent civilians and said that war had never been a solution to problems.